Wireless power transfer for audio playback devices

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein are devices (e.g., audio playback devices) configured to transmit and/or receive wireless power. Wireless power can be transferred using mid-range or long-range techniques, such as electromagnetic radiation (e.g., lasers, microwaves) or electromagnetic coupling (e.g., inductive coupling, capacitive coupling). Device performance and/or power transmission may be modified dynamically based on wireless power levels, user behavior, the behavior of other devices, device grouping, or other parameters.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Patent ApplicationNo. PCT/US2021/071327, filed Aug. 31, 2021, which claims the benefit ofpriority to U.S. Patent Application No. 62/706,647, filed Aug. 31, 2020,which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is related to consumer goods and, moreparticularly, to methods, systems, products, features, services, andother elements directed to media playback or some aspect thereof.

BACKGROUND

Options for accessing and listening to digital audio in an out-loudsetting were limited until in 2002, when SONOS, Inc. began developmentof a new type of playback system. Sonos then filed one of its firstpatent applications in 2003, entitled “Method for Synchronizing AudioPlayback between Multiple Networked Devices,” and began offering itsfirst media playback systems for sale in 2005. The Sonos Wireless HomeSound System enables people to experience music from many sources viaone or more networked playback devices. Through a software controlapplication installed on a controller (e.g., smartphone, tablet,computer, voice input device), one can play what she wants in any roomhaving a networked playback device. Media content (e.g., songs,podcasts, video sound) can be streamed to playback devices such thateach room with a playback device can play back corresponding differentmedia content. In addition, rooms can be grouped together forsynchronous playback of the same media content, and/or the same mediacontent can be heard in all rooms synchronously.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features, aspects, and advantages of the presently disclosed technologymay be better understood with regard to the following description,appended claims, and accompanying drawings, as listed below. A personskilled in the relevant art will understand that the features shown inthe drawings are for purposes of illustrations, and variations,including different and/or additional features and arrangements thereof,are possible.

FIG. 1A shows a partial cutaway view of an environment having a mediaplayback system configured in accordance with aspects of the disclosedtechnology.

FIG. 1B shows a schematic diagram of the media playback system of FIG.1A and one or more networks.

FIG. 1C shows a block diagram of a playback device.

FIG. 1D shows a block diagram of a playback device.

FIG. 1E shows a block diagram of a network microphone device.

FIG. 1F shows a block diagram of a network microphone device.

FIG. 1G shows a block diagram of a playback device.

FIG. 1H shows a partially schematic diagram of a control device.

FIGS. 1I through 1L show schematic diagrams of corresponding mediaplayback system zones.

FIG. 1M shows a schematic diagram of media playback system areas.

FIG. 2A shows a front isometric view of a playback device configured inaccordance with aspects of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 2B shows a front isometric view of the playback device of FIG. 3Awithout a grille.

FIG. 2C shows an exploded view of the playback device of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A shows a front view of a network microphone device configured inaccordance with aspects of the disclosed technology.

FIG. 3B shows a side isometric view of the network microphone device ofFIG. 3A.

FIG. 3C shows an exploded view of the network microphone device of FIGS.3A and 3B.

FIG. 3D shows an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 3B.

FIG. 3E shows a block diagram of the network microphone device of FIGS.3A-3D

FIG. 3F shows a schematic diagram of an example voice input.

FIGS. 4A-4D show schematic diagrams of a control device in variousstages of operation in accordance with aspects of the disclosedtechnology.

FIG. 5 shows front view of a control device.

FIG. 6 shows a message flow diagram of a media playback system.

FIG. 7 shows an example configuration of a wireless power transferdevice in accordance with the disclosed technology.

FIG. 8 shows an example configuration of a wireless power group inaccordance with the disclosed technology.

FIGS. 9A-9X illustrate example wireless power transfer scenarios inaccordance with the disclosed technology.

FIGS. 10-19 illustrate example methods relating to wireless powertransfer in accordance with the disclosed technology.

The drawings are for the purpose of illustrating example embodiments,but those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that thetechnology disclosed herein is not limited to the arrangements and/orinstrumentality shown in the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION I. Overview

SONOS Inc. has been an innovator in the space of wireless audio devicesand associated accessories. For example, SONOS Inc. pioneered wirelessplayback devices that receive audio content via wireless connections andalso have the ability to play back audio content synchronously as agroup. Additionally, SONOS Inc. has created the portable playback deviceSONOS MOVE and the associated docking accessory to facilitaterecharging.

While these devices have represented significant advances, they remaintethered to the use of a physical link such as an electrical wire forpower delivery (e.g., connected to the playback device itself orconnected to a docking station on which a portable playback device isperiodically placed). Building on these prior innovations, SONOS Inc. isfurther extending the goal of wireless audio playback devices to providedevices that can be powered wirelessly. For example, a playback devicecan include a wireless power receiver that is configured to receivewireless power from an external wireless power transmitter device. Thewireless power transmitter device can be another audio playback device,or the transmitter device may be a separate external device, such as apower transmitter hub, a television with an integrated wireless powertransmitter, etc. In some examples, the wireless power transmitter caninclude a power input port (e.g., for receiving power over a physicallink such as a power cord). Additionally or alternatively, a wirelesspower transfer device can include both a wireless power receiver and awireless power transmitter.

Such wireless power transfer can include mid- or long-range wirelesspower transfer, for example with devices being configured to provideeffective power transfer with the transmitter and receiver separatedfrom one another by a distance of greater than about 10 cm, or in someexamples greater than about 50 cm or greater than about 1 m.

Examples of such mid-range or long-range wireless power transfertechnologies include radiative techniques such as lasers, radio waves,microwaves, or other such techniques involving propagation ofelectromagnetic radiation from the transmitter device towards thereceiver device. In various examples, the wireless power receiver insuch instances can include a photovoltaic cell, a diode, an antenna(e.g., a rectenna), or other suitable hardware that can convertelectromagnetic radiation into electrical energy. Similarly, thewireless power transmitter in such instances can include an opticalsource such as a laser, a microwave source, an antenna (e.g.,directional antennas, phased array antennas, etc.), or other suitablesource of electromagnetic radiation.

Additionally or alternatively, such mid- or long-range wireless powertransmission can include non-radiative transmission techniques such aselectromagnetic coupling (e.g., inductive coupling, resonant inductivecoupling, capacitive coupling, resonant capacitive coupling,magnetodynamic coupling, etc.). In such instances, one or both thewireless power transmitter and the wireless power receiver can includeelectrically conductive coils (e.g., in the case of inductive coupling),electrodes (e.g., in the case of capacitive coupling), or rotatingarmatures carrying magnets thereon (e.g., in the case of magnetodynamiccoupling).

In at least some examples, the devices disclosed herein may transmitand/or receive wireless power using short-range wireless powertransmission (e.g., transfer of wireless power over a distance of lessthan about 10 cm, less than about 5 cm, or less than about 1 cm). Suchshort-range wireless power transmission can be in addition to or insteadof the mid- and long-range wireless power transmission described herein.

Additionally or alternatively, such wireless power transfer devices canincorporate one or more energy harvester components that are configuredto derive power from ambient energy in the environment. Example energyharvester components can be configured to derive power from, forexample, solar energy, thermal energy, wind energy, salinity gradients,kinetic energy, etc.). In some examples, the energy harvesters caninclude one or more photovoltaic cells configured to convert receivedlight into a voltage. Any of a variety of energy harvesters may beincluded in a wireless power transfer device. Examples of such energyharvesters include photovoltaic cells, thermoelectric generators, microwind turbines, piezoelectric crystals, electroacoustic transducers, andkinetic energy harvesters.

While providing playback devices (and other devices) with wireless powercapabilities provide several advantages, this framework also presentscertain challenges. For example, because wireless power transfer isgenerally less efficient than wired power transfer, and because mid- andlong-range wireless power transfer is generally less efficient thannear-range wireless power transfer, it may be beneficial to configurethe wireless transmitter device(s) and/or the wireless power receiverdevice(s) to maximize wireless power transfer and/or to minimize powerconsumption of one or both devices. Power transfer can be increased, forexample, by providing guidance to a user to facilitate appropriaterelative positioning of the receiver and/or transmitter devices. Suchguidance may take into account both the wireless power transferproperties of the positioning as well as the acoustic performance of oneor both devices at various locations. Additionally or alternatively, atransmitter device can include dynamic steering capabilities, such thatthe direction of the wireless power transmission can be modified, suchas by using moveable directional antennas, mirrors, lenses, or otheradjustable components. In operation, the transmitter device may adjustthe steering of the wireless power transmission so as to increase therate of wireless power received at one or more wireless power receiverdevices.

Playback devices that rely on wireless power transmission mayintermittently suffer from low power or even lose power completely.Accordingly, it may be beneficial to modify device performance based ona stored energy level (e.g., battery charge indicator), a rate ofwireless power received at a receiver device, and/or a rate of powerconsumption at the wireless power receiver device. One example ofmodifying device performance includes reducing power consumption byentering a low-power or standby mode based on scheduling, user presencedetection, or other such use parameter. In some examples, audio playbackparameters can be adjusted based on variations in power levels (e.g.,stored energy levels or a rate of wireless power transfer). In variousexamples, in response to variations in power levels, audio playback canbe modified to have a reduced volume, a reduced low-frequency output,and/or to offload at least some audio playback responsibilities toanother audio playback device. In some examples, audio playback of anon-affected device may be modified so as to match or otherwisecorrespond to a reduced audio performance of an impacted audio playbackdevice (e.g., a device that is suffering low battery or lower wirelesspower receipt levels).

Additionally, in some instances, wireless power transmission may beaffected by other activity, such as a user being positioned in between atransmitter device and a receiver device. In such instances, it may beuseful to modify the wireless power transmission, for example bytransmitting wireless power to a different receiver device, temporarilypausing wireless transmission, or taking other steps such as providingan alert to the user or suggesting relocating one or both of thereceiver and transmitter devices.

In some examples, wireless power transmission can be utilized tosimultaneously transfer data between a transmitter device and a receiverdevice. For example, the wireless power signal can include a carrierwave (e.g., light emitted via a laser, the AC current through aninductive coil, etc.), which can be modulated to incorporate datatherein. At the receiver device, the wireless power signal can bedemodulated to recover the transmitted data while also being convertedto electrical energy for operation of the receiver device. In variousexamples, modulation of the wireless power signal to transmit datatherein can include amplitude modulation, frequency modulation, phasemodulation, pulse-width modulation, spread spectrum modulation, or anyother suitable modulation scheme and/or combination of modulationschemes. In at least some instances, the data transmitted via thewireless power signal can include synchronization signals, power levelindicators, device identifiers, audio content metadata, or other suchdata. It should be appreciated that the data to be transmitted may (ormay not) be encoded according to one or more encoding schemes prior totransmission to, for example, reduce data errors in transmission (e.g.,a channel encoding scheme that adds redundancy) and/or compress the datafor transmission (e.g., a compression scheme that reduces the size ofthe data).

In some examples, wireless power transfer can be used to automaticallygroup or un-group playback devices for synchronous audio playback, orconversely grouping or ungrouping playback devices can cause wirelesspower transfer to be initiated. For example, when a first audio playbackdevice receives wireless power from a second audio playback device, thefirst audio playback device and the second audio playback device may beautomatically grouped or bonded together for synchronous audio playback.Similarly, when the first audio playback device no longer receiveswireless power from the second audio playback device, the first andsecond playback devices can be ungrouped or unbonded.

Although many of the examples disclosed herein relate to audio playbackdevices such as home theatre arrangements, examples of the presenttechnology may also be applied to non-playback devices. For example, insome instances, the wireless transmitter device need not be a playbackdevice. Additionally or alternatively, wireless power transfer asdescribed herein can be applied outside the context of audio playbackaltogether, for example to facilitate wireless power transfer amongother electronic devices while maintaining satisfactory user experienceand device performance.

While some examples described herein may refer to functions performed bygiven actors such as “users,” “listeners,” and/or other entities, itshould be understood that this is for purposes of explanation only. Theclaims should not be interpreted to require action by any such exampleactor unless explicitly required by the language of the claimsthemselves.

In the Figures, identical reference numbers identify generally similar,and/or identical, elements. To facilitate the discussion of anyparticular element, the most significant digit or digits of a referencenumber refers to the Figure in which that element is first introduced.For example, element 110 a is first introduced and discussed withreference to FIG. 1A. Many of the details, dimensions, angles and otherfeatures shown in the Figures are merely illustrative of particularembodiments of the disclosed technology. Accordingly, other embodimentscan have other details, dimensions, angles and features withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. In addition, thoseof ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that further embodiments ofthe various disclosed technologies can be practiced without several ofthe details described below.

II. Suitable Operating Environment

FIG. 1A is a partial cutaway view of a media playback system 100distributed in an environment 101 (e.g., a house). The media playbacksystem 100 comprises one or more playback devices 110 (identifiedindividually as playback devices 110 a-n), one or more networkmicrophone devices (“NMDs”), 120 (identified individually as NMDs 120a-c), and one or more control devices 130 (identified individually ascontrol devices 130 a and 130 b).

As used herein the term “playback device” can generally refer to anetwork device configured to receive, process, and output data of amedia playback system. For example, a playback device can be a networkdevice that receives and processes audio content. In some embodiments, aplayback device includes one or more transducers or speakers powered byone or more amplifiers. In other embodiments, however, a playback deviceincludes one of (or neither of) the speaker and the amplifier. Forinstance, a playback device can comprise one or more amplifiersconfigured to drive one or more speakers external to the playback devicevia a corresponding wire or cable.

Moreover, as used herein the term NMD (i.e., a “network microphonedevice”) can generally refer to a network device that is configured foraudio detection. In some embodiments, an NMD is a stand-alone deviceconfigured primarily for audio detection. In other embodiments, an NMDis incorporated into a playback device (or vice versa).

The term “control device” can generally refer to a network deviceconfigured to perform functions relevant to facilitating user access,control, and/or configuration of the media playback system 100.

Each of the playback devices 110 is configured to receive audio signalsor data from one or more media sources (e.g., one or more remoteservers, one or more local devices) and play back the received audiosignals or data as sound. The one or more NMDs 120 are configured toreceive spoken word commands, and the one or more control devices 130are configured to receive user input. In response to the received spokenword commands and/or user input, the media playback system 100 can playback audio via one or more of the playback devices 110. In certainembodiments, the playback devices 110 are configured to commenceplayback of media content in response to a trigger. For instance, one ormore of the playback devices 110 can be configured to play back amorning playlist upon detection of an associated trigger condition(e.g., presence of a user in a kitchen, detection of a coffee machineoperation). In some embodiments, for example, the media playback system100 is configured to play back audio from a first playback device (e.g.,the playback device 100 a) in synchrony with a second playback device(e.g., the playback device 100 b). Interactions between the playbackdevices 110, NMDs 120, and/or control devices 130 of the media playbacksystem 100 configured in accordance with the various embodiments of thedisclosure are described in greater detail below with respect to FIGS.1B-1L.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1A, the environment 101 comprisesa household having several rooms, spaces, and/or playback zones,including (clockwise from upper left) a master bathroom 101 a, a masterbedroom 101 b, a second bedroom 101 c, a family room or den 101 d, anoffice 101 e, a living room 101 f, a dining room 101 g, a kitchen 101 h,and an outdoor patio 101 i. While certain embodiments and examples aredescribed below in the context of a home environment, the technologiesdescribed herein may be implemented in other types of environments. Insome embodiments, for example, the media playback system 100 can beimplemented in one or more commercial settings (e.g., a restaurant,mall, airport, hotel, a retail or other store), one or more vehicles(e.g., a sports utility vehicle, bus, car, a ship, a boat, an airplane),multiple environments (e.g., a combination of home and vehicleenvironments), and/or another suitable environment where multi-zoneaudio may be desirable.

The media playback system 100 can comprise one or more playback zones,some of which may correspond to the rooms in the environment 101. Themedia playback system 100 can be established with one or more playbackzones, after which additional zones may be added, or removed to form,for example, the configuration shown in FIG. 1A. Each zone may be givena name according to a different room or space such as the office 101 e,master bathroom 101 a, master bedroom 101 b, the second bedroom 101 c,kitchen 101 h, dining room 101 g, living room 101 f, and/or the patio101 i. In some aspects, a single playback zone may include multiplerooms or spaces. In certain aspects, a single room or space may includemultiple playback zones.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1A, the master bathroom 101 a, thesecond bedroom 101 c, the office 101 e, the living room 101 f, thedining room 101 g, the kitchen 101 h, and the outdoor patio 101 i eachinclude one playback device 110, and the master bedroom 101 b and theden 101 d include a plurality of playback devices 110. In the masterbedroom 101 b, the playback devices 110 l and 110 m may be configured,for example, to play back audio content in synchrony as individual onesof playback devices 110, as a bonded playback zone, as a consolidatedplayback device, and/or any combination thereof. Similarly, in the den101 d, the playback devices 110 h-j can be configured, for instance, toplay back audio content in synchrony as individual ones of playbackdevices 110, as one or more bonded playback devices, and/or as one ormore consolidated playback devices. Additional details regarding bondedand consolidated playback devices are described below with respect to,for example, FIGS. 1B and 1E and 1I-1M.

In some aspects, one or more of the playback zones in the environment101 may each be playing different audio content. For instance, a usermay be grilling on the patio 101 i and listening to hip hop music beingplayed by the playback device 110 c while another user is preparing foodin the kitchen 101 h and listening to classical music played by theplayback device 110 b. In another example, a playback zone may play thesame audio content in synchrony with another playback zone. Forinstance, the user may be in the office 101 e listening to the playbackdevice 110 f playing back the same hip hop music being played back byplayback device 110 c on the patio 101 i. In some aspects, the playbackdevices 110 c and 110 f play back the hip hop music in synchrony suchthat the user perceives that the audio content is being playedseamlessly (or at least substantially seamlessly) while moving betweendifferent playback zones. Additional details regarding audio playbacksynchronization among playback devices and/or zones can be found, forexample, in U.S. Pat. No. 8,234,395 entitled, “System and method forsynchronizing operations among a plurality of independently clockeddigital data processing devices,” which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

To facilitate synchronous playback, the playback device(s) describedherein may, in some embodiments, be configurable to operate in (and/orswitch between) different modes such as an audio playback groupcoordinator mode and/or an audio playback group member mode. Whileoperating in the audio playback group coordinator mode, the playbackdevice may be configured to coordinate playback within the group by, forexample, performing one or more of the following functions: (i)receiving audio content from an audio source, (ii) using a clock (e.g.,a physical clock or a virtual clock) in the playback device to generateplayback timing information for the audio content, (iii) transmittingportions of the audio content and playback timing for the portions ofthe audio content to at least one other playback device (e.g., at leastone other playback device operating in an audio playback group membermode), (iv) transmitting timing information (e.g., generated using theclock to the at least one other playback device; and/or (v) playing backthe audio content in synchrony with the at least one other playbackdevice using the generated playback timing information and/or the clock.While operating in the audio playback group member mode, the playbackdevice may be configured to perform one or more of the followingfunctions: (i) receiving audio content and playback timing for the audiocontent from the at least one other device (e.g., a playback deviceoperating in an audio playback group coordinator mode); (ii) receivingtiming information from the at least one other device (e.g., a playbackdevice operating in an audio playback group coordinator mode); and/or(iii) playing the audio content in synchrony with at least the otherplayback device using the playback timing for the audio content and/orthe timing information.

a. Suitable Media Playback System

FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of the media playback system 100 and acloud network 102. For ease of illustration, certain devices of themedia playback system 100 and the cloud network 102 are omitted fromFIG. 1B. One or more communication links 103 (referred to hereinafter as“the links 103”) communicatively couple the media playback system 100and the cloud network 102.

The links 103 can comprise, for example, one or more wired networks, oneor more wireless networks, one or more wide area networks (WAN) (e.g.,the Internet), one or more local area networks (LAN) (e.g., one or moreWIFI networks), one or more personal area networks (PAN) (e.g., one ormore BLUETOOTH networks, Z-WAVE networks, wireless Universal Serial Bus(USB) networks, ZIGBEE networks, and/or IRDA networks), one or moretelecommunication networks (e.g., one or more Global System for Mobiles(GSM) networks, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks, Long-TermEvolution (LTE) networks, 5G communication network networks, and/orother suitable data transmission protocol networks), etc. The cloudnetwork 102 is configured to deliver media content (e.g., audio content,video content, photographs, social media content) to the media playbacksystem 100 in response to a request transmitted from the media playbacksystem 100 via the links 103. In some embodiments, the cloud network 102is further configured to receive data (e.g. voice input data) from themedia playback system 100 and correspondingly transmit commands and/ormedia content to the media playback system 100.

The cloud network 102 comprises computing devices 106 (identifiedseparately as a first computing device 106 a, a second computing device106 b, and a third computing device 106 c). The computing devices 106can comprise individual computers or servers, such as, for example, amedia streaming service server storing audio and/or other media content,a voice service server, a social media server, a media playback systemcontrol server, etc. In some embodiments, one or more of the computingdevices 106 comprise modules of a single computer or server. In certainembodiments, one or more of the computing devices 106 comprise one ormore modules, computers, and/or servers. Moreover, while the cloudnetwork 102 is described above in the context of a single cloud network,in some embodiments the cloud network 102 comprises a plurality of cloudnetworks comprising communicatively coupled computing devices.Furthermore, while the cloud network 102 is shown in FIG. 1B as havingthree of the computing devices 106, in some embodiments, the cloudnetwork 102 comprises fewer (or more than) three computing devices 106.

The media playback system 100 is configured to receive media contentfrom the networks 102 via the links 103. The received media content cancomprise, for example, a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) and/or aUniform Resource Locator (URL). For instance, in some examples, themedia playback system 100 can stream, download, or otherwise obtain datafrom a URI or a URL corresponding to the received media content. Anetwork 104 communicatively couples the links 103 and at least a portionof the devices (e.g., one or more of the playback devices 110, NMDs 120,and/or control devices 130) of the media playback system 100. Thenetwork 104 can include, for example, a wireless network (e.g., a WiFinetwork, a Bluetooth, a Z-Wave network, a ZigBee, and/or other suitablewireless communication protocol network) and/or a wired network (e.g., anetwork comprising Ethernet, Universal Serial Bus (USB), and/or anothersuitable wired communication). As those of ordinary skill in the artwill appreciate, as used herein, “WiFi” can refer to several differentcommunication protocols including, for example, Institute of Electricaland Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n,802.11ac, 802.11ac, 802.11ad, 802.11af, 802.11ah, 802.11ai, 802.11aj,802.11aq, 802.11ax, 802.11ay, 802.15, etc. transmitted at 2.4 Gigahertz(GHz), 5 GHz, and/or another suitable frequency.

In some embodiments, the network 104 comprises a dedicated communicationnetwork that the media playback system 100 uses to transmit messagesbetween individual devices and/or to transmit media content to and frommedia content sources (e.g., one or more of the computing devices 106).In certain embodiments, the network 104 is configured to be accessibleonly to devices in the media playback system 100, thereby reducinginterference and competition with other household devices. In otherembodiments, however, the network 104 comprises an existing householdcommunication network (e.g., a household WiFi network). In someembodiments, the links 103 and the network 104 comprise one or more ofthe same networks. In some aspects, for example, the links 103 and thenetwork 104 comprise a telecommunication network (e.g., an LTE network,a 5G network). Moreover, in some embodiments, the media playback system100 is implemented without the network 104, and devices comprising themedia playback system 100 can communicate with each other, for example,via one or more direct or indirect connections, PANs, LANs,telecommunication networks, and/or other suitable communication links.

In some embodiments, audio content sources may be regularly added orremoved from the media playback system 100. In some embodiments, forexample, the media playback system 100 performs an indexing of mediaitems when one or more media content sources are updated, added to,and/or removed from the media playback system 100. The media playbacksystem 100 can scan identifiable media items in some or all foldersand/or directories accessible to the playback devices 110, and generateor update a media content database comprising metadata (e.g., title,artist, album, track length) and other associated information (e.g.,URIs, URLs) for each identifiable media item found. In some embodiments,for example, the media content database is stored on one or more of theplayback devices 110, network microphone devices 120, and/or controldevices 130.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1B, the playback devices 110 l and110 m comprise a group 107 a. The playback devices 110 l and 110 m canbe positioned in different rooms in a household and be grouped togetherin the group 107 a on a temporary or permanent basis based on user inputreceived at the control device 130 a and/or another control device 130in the media playback system 100. When arranged in the group 107 a, theplayback devices 110 l and 110 m can be configured to play back the sameor similar audio content in synchrony from one or more audio contentsources. In certain embodiments, for example, the group 107 a comprisesa bonded zone in which the playback devices 110 l and 110 m compriseleft audio and right audio channels, respectively, of multi-channelaudio content, thereby producing or enhancing a stereo effect of theaudio content. In some embodiments, the group 107 a includes additionalplayback devices 110. In other embodiments, however, the media playbacksystem 100 omits the group 107 a and/or other grouped arrangements ofthe playback devices 110. Additional details regarding groups and otherarrangements of playback devices are described in further detail belowwith respect to FIGS. 1 -I through IM.

The media playback system 100 includes the NMDs 120 a and 120 d, eachcomprising one or more microphones configured to receive voiceutterances from a user. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1B, theNMD 120 a is a standalone device and the NMD 120 d is integrated intothe playback device 110 n. The NMD 120 a, for example, is configured toreceive voice input 121 from a user 123. In some embodiments, the NMD120 a transmits data associated with the received voice input 121 to avoice assistant service (VAS) configured to (i) process the receivedvoice input data and (ii) transmit a corresponding command to the mediaplayback system 100. In some aspects, for example, the computing device106 c comprises one or more modules and/or servers of a VAS (e.g., a VASoperated by one or more of SONOS®, AMAZON®, GOOGLE® APPLE®, MICROSOFT®).The computing device 106 c can receive the voice input data from the NMD120 a via the network 104 and the links 103. In response to receivingthe voice input data, the computing device 106 c processes the voiceinput data (i.e., “Play Hey Jude by The Beatles”), and determines thatthe processed voice input includes a command to play a song (e.g., “HeyJude”). The computing device 106 c accordingly transmits commands to themedia playback system 100 to play back “Hey Jude” by the Beatles from asuitable media service (e.g., via one or more of the computing devices106) on one or more of the playback devices 110.

b. Suitable Playback Devices

FIG. 1C is a block diagram of the playback device 110 a comprising aninput/output 111. The input/output 111 can include an analog I/O 111 a(e.g., one or more wires, cables, and/or other suitable communicationlinks configured to carry analog signals) and/or a digital I/O 111 b(e.g., one or more wires, cables, or other suitable communication linksconfigured to carry digital signals). In some embodiments, the analogI/O 111 a is an audio line-in input connection comprising, for example,an auto-detecting 3.5 mm audio line-in connection. In some embodiments,the digital I/O 111 b comprises a Sony/Philips Digital Interface Format(S/PDIF) communication interface and/or cable and/or a Toshiba Link(TOSLINK) cable. In some embodiments, the digital I/O 111 b comprises aHigh-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) interface and/or cable. Insome embodiments, the digital I/O 111 b includes one or more wirelesscommunication links comprising, for example, a radio frequency (RF),infrared, WiFi, Bluetooth, or another suitable communication protocol.In certain embodiments, the analog I/O 111 a and the digital I/O 111 bcomprise interfaces (e.g., ports, plugs, jacks) configured to receiveconnectors of cables transmitting analog and digital signals,respectively, without necessarily including cables.

The playback device 110 a, for example, can receive media content (e.g.,audio content comprising music and/or other sounds) from a local audiosource 105 via the input/output 111 (e.g., a cable, a wire, a PAN, aBluetooth connection, an ad hoc wired or wireless communication network,and/or another suitable communication link). The local audio source 105can comprise, for example, a mobile device (e.g., a smartphone, atablet, a laptop computer) or another suitable audio component (e.g., atelevision, a desktop computer, an amplifier, a phonograph, a Blu-rayplayer, a memory storing digital media files). In some aspects, thelocal audio source 105 includes local music libraries on a smartphone, acomputer, a networked-attached storage (NAS), and/or another suitabledevice configured to store media files. In certain embodiments, one ormore of the playback devices 110, NMDs 120, and/or control devices 130comprise the local audio source 105. In other embodiments, however, themedia playback system omits the local audio source 105 altogether. Insome embodiments, the playback device 110 a does not include aninput/output 111 and receives all audio content via the network 104.

The playback device 110 a further comprises electronics 112, a userinterface 113 (e.g., one or more buttons, knobs, dials, touch-sensitivesurfaces, displays, touchscreens), and one or more transducers 114(referred to hereinafter as “the transducers 114”). The electronics 112is configured to receive audio from an audio source (e.g., the localaudio source 105) via the input/output 111, one or more of the computingdevices 106 a-c via the network 104 (FIG. 1B), amplify the receivedaudio, and output the amplified audio for playback via one or more ofthe transducers 114. In some embodiments, the playback device 110 aoptionally includes one or more microphones 115 (e.g., a singlemicrophone, a plurality of microphones, a microphone array) (hereinafterreferred to as “the microphones 115”). In certain embodiments, forexample, the playback device 110 a having one or more of the optionalmicrophones 115 can operate as an NMD configured to receive voice inputfrom a user and correspondingly perform one or more operations based onthe received voice input.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1C, the electronics 112 compriseone or more processors 112 a (referred to hereinafter as “the processors112 a”), memory 112 b, software components 112 c, a network interface112 d, one or more audio processing components 112 g (referred tohereinafter as “the audio components 112 g”), one or more audioamplifiers 112 h (referred to hereinafter as “the amplifiers 112 h”),and power 112 i (e.g., one or more power supplies, power cables, powerreceptacles, batteries, induction coils, Power-over Ethernet (POE)interfaces, and/or other suitable sources of electric power). In someembodiments, the electronics 112 optionally include one or more othercomponents 112 j (e.g., one or more sensors, video displays,touchscreens, battery charging bases).

As described in more detail elsewhere herein, in some examples the powercomponents 112 i can include one or more of: a wireless powertransmitter (e.g., a laser, induction coils, etc.), a wireless powerreceiver (e.g., a photovoltaic cell, induction coils, etc.), an energystorage component (e.g., a capacitor, a rechargeable battery), an energyharvester, a wired power input port, and/or associated power circuitry.In operation, the playback device 110 a can be configured to transmitwireless power to one or more external devices. Additionally oralternatively, the playback device 110 a can be configured to receivewireless power from one or more external transmitter devices, instead ofor in addition to receiving power over a wired connection.

The processors 112 a can comprise clock-driven computing component(s)configured to process data, and the memory 112 b can comprise acomputer-readable medium (e.g., a tangible, non-transitorycomputer-readable medium, data storage loaded with one or more of thesoftware components 112 c) configured to store instructions forperforming various operations and/or functions. The processors 112 a areconfigured to execute the instructions stored on the memory 112 b toperform one or more of the operations. The operations can include, forexample, causing the playback device 110 a to retrieve audio informationfrom an audio source (e.g., one or more of the computing devices 106 a-c(FIG. 1B)), and/or another one of the playback devices 110. In someembodiments, the operations further include causing the playback device110 a to send audio information to another one of the playback devices110 a and/or another device (e.g., one of the NMDs 120). Certainembodiments include operations causing the playback device 110 a to pairwith another of the one or more playback devices 110 to enable amulti-channel audio environment (e.g., a stereo pair, a bonded zone).

The processors 112 a can be further configured to perform operationscausing the playback device 110 a to synchronize playback of audiocontent with another of the one or more playback devices 110. As thoseof ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, during synchronousplayback of audio content on a plurality of playback devices, a listenerwill preferably be unable to perceive time-delay differences betweenplayback of the audio content by the playback device 110 a and the otherone or more other playback devices 110. Additional details regardingaudio playback synchronization among playback devices can be found, forexample, in U.S. Pat. No. 8,234,395, which was incorporated by referenceabove.

In some embodiments, the memory 112 b is further configured to storedata associated with the playback device 110 a, such as one or morezones and/or zone groups of which the playback device 110 a is a member,audio sources accessible to the playback device 110 a, and/or a playbackqueue that the playback device 110 a (and/or another of the one or moreplayback devices) can be associated with. The stored data can compriseone or more state variables that are periodically updated and used todescribe a state of the playback device 110 a. The memory 112 b can alsoinclude data associated with a state of one or more of the other devices(e.g., the playback devices 110, NMDs 120, control devices 130) of themedia playback system 100. In some aspects, for example, the state datais shared during predetermined intervals of time (e.g., every 5 seconds,every 10 seconds, every 60 seconds) among at least a portion of thedevices of the media playback system 100, so that one or more of thedevices have the most recent data associated with the media playbacksystem 100.

The network interface 112 d is configured to facilitate a transmissionof data between the playback device 110 a and one or more other deviceson a data network such as, for example, the links 103 and/or the network104 (FIG. 1B). The network interface 112 d is configured to transmit andreceive data corresponding to media content (e.g., audio content, videocontent, text, photographs) and other signals (e.g., non-transitorysignals) comprising digital packet data including an Internet Protocol(IP)-based source address and/or an IP-based destination address. Thenetwork interface 112 d can parse the digital packet data such that theelectronics 112 properly receives and processes the data destined forthe playback device 110 a.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1C, the network interface 112 dcomprises one or more wireless interfaces 112 e (referred to hereinafteras “the wireless interface 112 e”). The wireless interface 112 e (e.g.,a suitable interface comprising one or more antennae) can be configuredto wirelessly communicate with one or more other devices (e.g., one ormore of the other playback devices 110, NMDs 120, and/or control devices130) that are communicatively coupled to the network 104 (FIG. 1B) inaccordance with a suitable wireless communication protocol (e.g., WiFi,Bluetooth, LTE). In some embodiments, the network interface 112 doptionally includes a wired interface 112 f (e.g., an interface orreceptacle configured to receive a network cable such as an Ethernet, aUSB-A, USB-C, and/or Thunderbolt cable) configured to communicate over awired connection with other devices in accordance with a suitable wiredcommunication protocol. In certain embodiments, the network interface112 d includes the wired interface 112 f and excludes the wirelessinterface 112 e. In some embodiments, the electronics 112 excludes thenetwork interface 112 d altogether and transmits and receives mediacontent and/or other data via another communication path (e.g., theinput/output 111).

The audio processing components 112 g are configured to process and/orfilter data comprising media content received by the electronics 112(e.g., via the input/output 111 and/or the network interface 112 d) toproduce output audio signals. In some embodiments, the audio processingcomponents 112 g comprise, for example, one or more digital-to-analogconverters (DAC), audio preprocessing components, audio enhancementcomponents, digital signal processors (DSPs), and/or other suitableaudio processing components, modules, circuits, etc. In certainembodiments, one or more of the audio processing components 112 g cancomprise one or more subcomponents of the processors 112 a. In someembodiments, the electronics 112 omits the audio processing components112 g. In some aspects, for example, the processors 112 a executeinstructions stored on the memory 112 b to perform audio processingoperations to produce the output audio signals.

The amplifiers 112 h are configured to receive and amplify the audiooutput signals produced by the audio processing components 112 g and/orthe processors 112 a. The amplifiers 112 h can comprise electronicdevices and/or components configured to amplify audio signals to levelssufficient for driving one or more of the transducers 114. In someembodiments, for example, the amplifiers 112 h include one or moreswitching or class-D power amplifiers. In other embodiments, however,the amplifiers include one or more other types of power amplifiers(e.g., linear gain power amplifiers, class-A amplifiers, class-Bamplifiers, class-AB amplifiers, class-C amplifiers, class-D amplifiers,class-E amplifiers, class-F amplifiers, class-G and/or class Hamplifiers, and/or another suitable type of power amplifier). In certainembodiments, the amplifiers 112 h comprise a suitable combination of twoor more of the foregoing types of power amplifiers. Moreover, in someembodiments, individual ones of the amplifiers 112 h correspond toindividual ones of the transducers 114. In other embodiments, however,the electronics 112 includes a single one of the amplifiers 112 hconfigured to output amplified audio signals to a plurality of thetransducers 114. In some other embodiments, the electronics 112 omitsthe amplifiers 112 h.

The transducers 114 (e.g., one or more speakers and/or speaker drivers)receive the amplified audio signals from the amplifier 112 h and renderor output the amplified audio signals as sound (e.g., audible soundwaves having a frequency between about 20 Hertz (Hz) and 20 kilohertz(kHz)). In some embodiments, the transducers 114 can comprise a singletransducer. In other embodiments, however, the transducers 114 comprisea plurality of audio transducers. In some embodiments, the transducers114 comprise more than one type of transducer. For example, thetransducers 114 can include one or more low frequency transducers (e.g.,subwoofers, woofers), mid-range frequency transducers (e.g., mid-rangetransducers, mid-woofers), and one or more high frequency transducers(e.g., one or more tweeters). As used herein, “low frequency” cangenerally refer to audible frequencies below about 500 Hz, “mid-rangefrequency” can generally refer to audible frequencies between about 500Hz and about 2 kHz, and “high frequency” can generally refer to audiblefrequencies above 2 kHz. In certain embodiments, however, one or more ofthe transducers 114 comprise transducers that do not adhere to theforegoing frequency ranges. For example, one of the transducers 114 maycomprise a mid-woofer transducer configured to output sound atfrequencies between about 200 Hz and about 5 kHz.

By way of illustration, SONOS, Inc. presently offers (or has offered)for sale certain playback devices including, for example, a “SONOS ONE,”“PLAY:1,” “PLAY:3,” “PLAY:5,” “PLAYBAR,” “PLAYBASE,” “CONNECT:AMP,”“CONNECT,” and “SUB.” Other suitable playback devices may additionallyor alternatively be used to implement the playback devices of exampleembodiments disclosed herein. Additionally, one of ordinary skilled inthe art will appreciate that a playback device is not limited to theexamples described herein or to SONOS product offerings. In someembodiments, for example, one or more playback devices 110 compriseswired or wireless headphones (e.g., over-the-ear headphones, on-earheadphones, in-ear earphones). The headphone may comprise a headbandcoupled to one or more earcups. For example, a first earcup may becoupled to a first end of the headband and a second earcup may becoupled to a second end of the headband that is opposite the first end.Each of the one or more earcups may house any portion of the electroniccomponents in the playback device, such as one or more transducers.Further, the one or more of earcups may include a user interface forcontrolling operation of the headphone such as for controlling audioplayback, volume level, and other functions. The user interface mayinclude any of a variety of control elements such as buttons, knobs,dials, touch-sensitive surfaces, and/or touchscreens. An ear cushion maybe coupled each of the one or more earcups. The ear cushions may providea soft barrier between the head of a user and the one or more earcups toimprove user comfort and/or provide acoustic isolation from the ambient(e.g., provide passive noise reduction (PNR)). Additionally (oralternatively), the headphone may employ active noise reduction (ANR)techniques to further reduce the user's perception of outside noiseduring playback.

In some instances, the headphone device may take the form of a hearabledevice. Hearable devices may include those headphone devices (e.g.,ear-level devices) that are configured to provide a hearing enhancementfunction while also supporting playback of media content (e.g.,streaming media content from a user device over a PAN, streaming mediacontent from a streaming music service provider over a WLAN and/or acellular network connection, etc.). In some instances, a hearable devicemay be implemented as an in-ear headphone device that is configured toplayback an amplified version of at least some sounds detected from anexternal environment (e.g., all sound, select sounds such as humanspeech, etc.).

In some embodiments, one or more of the playback devices 110 comprise adocking station and/or an interface configured to interact with adocking station for personal mobile media playback devices. In certainembodiments, a playback device may be integral to another device orcomponent such as a television, a lighting fixture, or some other devicefor indoor or outdoor use. In some embodiments, a playback device omitsa user interface and/or one or more transducers. For example, FIG. 1D isa block diagram of a playback device 110 p comprising the input/output111 and electronics 112 without the user interface 113 or transducers114.

FIG. 1E is a block diagram of a bonded playback device 110 q comprisingthe playback device 110 a (FIG. 1C) sonically bonded with the playbackdevice 110 i (e.g., a subwoofer) (FIG. 1A). In the illustratedembodiment, the playback devices 110 a and 110 i are separate ones ofthe playback devices 110 housed in separate enclosures. In someembodiments, however, the bonded playback device 110 q comprises asingle enclosure housing both the playback devices 110 a and 110 i. Thebonded playback device 110 q can be configured to process and reproducesound differently than an unbonded playback device (e.g., the playbackdevice 110 a of FIG. 1C) and/or paired or bonded playback devices (e.g.,the playback devices 110 l and 110 m of FIG. 1B). In some embodiments,for example, the playback device 110 a is full-range playback deviceconfigured to render low frequency, mid-range frequency, and highfrequency audio content, and the playback device 110 i is a subwooferconfigured to render low frequency audio content. In some aspects, theplayback device 110 a, when bonded with the first playback device, isconfigured to render only the mid-range and high frequency components ofa particular audio content, while the playback device 110 i renders thelow frequency component of the particular audio content. In someembodiments, the bonded playback device 110 q includes additionalplayback devices and/or another bonded playback device. Additionalplayback device embodiments are described in further detail below withrespect to FIGS. 2A-3D.

c. Suitable Network Microphone Devices (NMDs)

FIG. 1F is a block diagram of the NMD 120 a (FIGS. 1A and 1B). The NMD120 a includes one or more voice processing components 124 (hereinafter“the voice components 124”) and several components described withrespect to the playback device 110 a (FIG. 1C) including the processors112 a, the memory 112 b, the power components 112 i, and the microphones115. As described elsewhere herein, the power components 112 i caninclude one or more of: a wireless power transmitter (e.g., a laser,induction coils, etc.), a wireless power receiver (e.g., a photovoltaiccell, induction coils, etc.), an energy storage component (e.g., acapacitor, a rechargeable battery), an energy harvester, a wired powerinput port, and/or associated power circuitry. In operation, an NMD 120a can be configured to transmit wireless power to one or more externaldevices. Additionally or alternatively, the NMD 120 a can be configuredto receive wireless power from one or more external transmitter devices,in addition to or instead of receiving power over a wired connection.

The NMD 120 a optionally comprises other components also included in theplayback device 110 a (FIG. 1C), such as the user interface 113 and/orthe transducers 114. In some embodiments, the NMD 120 a is configured asa media playback device (e.g., one or more of the playback devices 110),and further includes, for example, one or more of the audio processingcomponents 112 g (FIG. 1C), the transducers 114, and/or other playbackdevice components. In certain embodiments, the NMD 120 a comprises anInternet of Things (IoT) device such as, for example, a thermostat,alarm panel, fire and/or smoke detector, etc. In some embodiments, theNMD 120 a comprises the microphones 115, the voice processing 124, andonly a portion of the components of the electronics 112 described abovewith respect to FIG. 1B. In some aspects, for example, the NMD 120 aincludes the processor 112 a and the memory 112 b (FIG. 1B), whileomitting one or more other components of the electronics 112. In someembodiments, the NMD 120 a includes additional components (e.g., one ormore sensors, cameras, thermometers, barometers, hygrometers).

In some embodiments, an NMD can be integrated into a playback device.FIG. 1G is a block diagram of a playback device 110 r comprising an NMD120 d. The playback device 110 r can comprise many or all of thecomponents of the playback device 110 a and further include themicrophones 115 and voice processing 124 (FIG. 1F). The playback device110 r optionally includes an integrated control device 130 c. Thecontrol device 130 c can comprise, for example, a user interface (e.g.,the user interface 113 of FIG. 1B) configured to receive user input(e.g., touch input, voice input) without a separate control device. Inother embodiments, however, the playback device 110 r receives commandsfrom another control device (e.g., the control device 130 a of FIG. 1B).Additional NMD embodiments are described in further detail below withrespect to FIGS. 3A-3F.

Referring again to FIG. 1F, the microphones 115 are configured toacquire, capture, and/or receive sound from an environment (e.g., theenvironment 101 of FIG. 1A) and/or a room in which the NMD 120 a ispositioned. The received sound can include, for example, vocalutterances, audio played back by the NMD 120 a and/or another playbackdevice, background voices, ambient sounds, etc. The microphones 115convert the received sound into electrical signals to produce microphonedata. The voice processing 124 receives and analyzes the microphone datato determine whether a voice input is present in the microphone data.The voice input can comprise, for example, an activation word followedby an utterance including a user request. As those of ordinary skill inthe art will appreciate, an activation word is a word or other audio cuethat signifying a user voice input. For instance, in querying theAMAZON® VAS, a user might speak the activation word “Alexa.” Otherexamples include “Ok, Google” for invoking the GOOGLE® VAS and “Hey,Siri” for invoking the APPLE® VAS.

After detecting the activation word, voice processing 124 monitors themicrophone data for an accompanying user request in the voice input. Theuser request may include, for example, a command to control athird-party device, such as a thermostat (e.g., NEST® thermostat), anillumination device (e.g., a PHILIPS HUE® lighting device), or a mediaplayback device (e.g., a Sonos® playback device). For example, a usermight speak the activation word “Alexa” followed by the utterance “setthe thermostat to 68 degrees” to set a temperature in a home (e.g., theenvironment 101 of FIG. 1A). The user might speak the same activationword followed by the utterance “turn on the living room” to turn onillumination devices in a living room area of the home. The user maysimilarly speak an activation word followed by a request to play aparticular song, an album, or a playlist of music on a playback devicein the home. Additional description regarding receiving and processingvoice input data can be found in further detail below with respect toFIGS. 3A-3F.

d. Suitable Control Devices

FIG. 1H is a partially schematic diagram of the control device 130 a(FIGS. 1A and 1B). As used herein, the term “control device” can be usedinterchangeably with “controller” or “control system.” Among otherfeatures, the control device 130 a is configured to receive user inputrelated to the media playback system 100 and, in response, cause one ormore devices in the media playback system 100 to perform an action(s) oroperation(s) corresponding to the user input. In the illustratedembodiment, the control device 130 a comprises a smartphone (e.g., aniPhone™, an Android phone) on which media playback system controllerapplication software is installed. In some embodiments, the controldevice 130 a comprises, for example, a tablet (e.g., an iPad™), acomputer (e.g., a laptop computer, a desktop computer), and/or anothersuitable device (e.g., a television, an automobile audio head unit, anIoT device). In certain embodiments, the control device 130 a comprisesa dedicated controller for the media playback system 100. In otherembodiments, as described above with respect to FIG. 1G, the controldevice 130 a is integrated into another device in the media playbacksystem 100 (e.g., one more of the playback devices 110, NMDs 120, and/orother suitable devices configured to communicate over a network).

The control device 130 a includes electronics 132, a user interface 133,one or more speakers 134, and one or more microphones 135. Theelectronics 132 comprise one or more processors 132 a (referred tohereinafter as “the processors 132 a”), a memory 132 b, softwarecomponents 132 c, and a network interface 132 d. The processor 132 a canbe configured to perform functions relevant to facilitating user access,control, and configuration of the media playback system 100. The memory132 b can comprise data storage that can be loaded with one or more ofthe software components executable by the processor 302 to perform thosefunctions. The software components 132 c can comprise applicationsand/or other executable software configured to facilitate control of themedia playback system 100. The memory 112 b can be configured to store,for example, the software components 132 c, media playback systemcontroller application software, and/or other data associated with themedia playback system 100 and the user.

The network interface 132 d is configured to facilitate networkcommunications between the control device 130 a and one or more otherdevices in the media playback system 100, and/or one or more remotedevices. In some embodiments, the network interface 132 d is configuredto operate according to one or more suitable communication industrystandards (e.g., infrared, radio, wired standards including IEEE 802.3,wireless standards including IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n,802.11ac, 802.15, 4G, LTE). The network interface 132 d can beconfigured, for example, to transmit data to and/or receive data fromthe playback devices 110, the NMDs 120, other ones of the controldevices 130, one of the computing devices 106 of FIG. 1B, devicescomprising one or more other media playback systems, etc. Thetransmitted and/or received data can include, for example, playbackdevice control commands, state variables, playback zone and/or zonegroup configurations. For instance, based on user input received at theuser interface 133, the network interface 132 d can transmit a playbackdevice control command (e.g., volume control, audio playback control,audio content selection) from the control device 304 to one or more ofplayback devices. The network interface 132 d can also transmit and/orreceive configuration changes such as, for example, adding/removing oneor more playback devices to/from a zone, adding/removing one or morezones to/from a zone group, forming a bonded or consolidated player,separating one or more playback devices from a bonded or consolidatedplayer, among others. Additional description of zones and groups can befound below with respect to FIGS. 1 -I through 1M.

The user interface 133 is configured to receive user input and canfacilitate ‘control of the media playback system 100. The user interface133 includes media content art 133 a (e.g., album art, lyrics, videos),a playback status indicator 133 b (e.g., an elapsed and/or remainingtime indicator), media content information region 133 c, a playbackcontrol region 133 d, and a zone indicator 133 e. The media contentinformation region 133 c can include a display of relevant information(e.g., title, artist, album, genre, release year) about media contentcurrently playing and/or media content in a queue or playlist. Theplayback control region 133 d can include selectable (e.g., via touchinput and/or via a cursor or another suitable selector) icons to causeone or more playback devices in a selected playback zone or zone groupto perform playback actions such as, for example, play or pause, fastforward, rewind, skip to next, skip to previous, enter/exit shufflemode, enter/exit repeat mode, enter/exit cross fade mode, etc. Theplayback control region 133 d may also include selectable icons tomodify equalization settings, playback volume, and/or other suitableplayback actions. In the illustrated embodiment, the user interface 133comprises a display presented on a touch screen interface of asmartphone (e.g., an iPhone™, an Android phone). In some embodiments,however, user interfaces of varying formats, styles, and interactivesequences may alternatively be implemented on one or more networkdevices to provide comparable control access to a media playback system.

The one or more speakers 134 (e.g., one or more transducers) can beconfigured to output sound to the user of the control device 130 a. Insome embodiments, the one or more speakers comprise individualtransducers configured to correspondingly output low frequencies,mid-range frequencies, and/or high frequencies. In some aspects, forexample, the control device 130 a is configured as a playback device(e.g., one of the playback devices 110). Similarly, in some embodimentsthe control device 130 a is configured as an NMD (e.g., one of the NMDs120), receiving voice commands and other sounds via the one or moremicrophones 135.

The one or more microphones 135 can comprise, for example, one or morecondenser microphones, electret condenser microphones, dynamicmicrophones, and/or other suitable types of microphones or transducers.In some embodiments, two or more of the microphones 135 are arranged tocapture location information of an audio source (e.g., voice, audiblesound) and/or configured to facilitate filtering of background noise.Moreover, in certain embodiments, the control device 130 a is configuredto operate as a playback device and an NMD. In other embodiments,however, the control device 130 a omits the one or more speakers 134and/or the one or more microphones 135. For instance, the control device130 a may comprise a device (e.g., a thermostat, an IoT device, anetwork device) comprising a portion of the electronics 132 and the userinterface 133 (e.g., a touch screen) without any speakers ormicrophones. Additional control device embodiments are described infurther detail below with respect to FIGS. 4A-4D and 5 .

e. Suitable Playback Device Configurations

FIGS. 1 -I through 1M show example configurations of playback devices inzones and zone groups. Referring first to FIG. 1M, in one example, asingle playback device may belong to a zone. For example, the playbackdevice 110 g in the second bedroom 101 c (FIG. 1A) may belong to Zone C.In some implementations described below, multiple playback devices maybe “bonded” to form a “bonded pair” which together form a single zone.For example, the playback device 110 l (e.g., a left playback device)can be bonded to the playback device 110 l (e.g., a left playbackdevice) to form Zone A. Bonded playback devices may have differentplayback responsibilities (e.g., channel responsibilities). In anotherimplementation described below, multiple playback devices may be mergedto form a single zone. For example, the playback device 110 h (e.g., afront playback device) may be merged with the playback device 110 i(e.g., a subwoofer), and the playback devices 110 j and 110 k (e.g.,left and right surround speakers, respectively) to form a single Zone D.In another example, the playback devices 110 g and 110 h can be mergedto form a merged group or a zone group 108 b. The merged playbackdevices 110 g and 110 h may not be specifically assigned differentplayback responsibilities. That is, the merged playback devices 110 hand 110 i may, aside from playing audio content in synchrony, each playaudio content as they would if they were not merged.

Each zone in the media playback system 100 may be provided for controlas a single user interface (UI) entity. For example, Zone A may beprovided as a single entity named Master Bathroom. Zone B may beprovided as a single entity named Master Bedroom. Zone C may be providedas a single entity named Second Bedroom.

Playback devices that are bonded may have different playbackresponsibilities, such as responsibilities for certain audio channels.For example, as shown in FIG. 1 -I, the playback devices 110 l and 110 mmay be bonded so as to produce or enhance a stereo effect of audiocontent. In this example, the playback device 110 l may be configured toplay a left channel audio component, while the playback device 110 k maybe configured to play a right channel audio component. In someimplementations, such stereo bonding may be referred to as “pairing.”

Additionally, bonded playback devices may have additional and/ordifferent respective speaker drivers. As shown in FIG. 1J, the playbackdevice 110 h named Front may be bonded with the playback device 110 inamed SUB. The Front device 110 h can be configured to render a range ofmid to high frequencies and the SUB device 110 i can be configuredrender low frequencies. When unbonded, however, the Front device 110 hcan be configured render a full range of frequencies. As anotherexample, FIG. 1K shows the Front and SUB devices 110 h and 110 i furtherbonded with Left and Right playback devices 110 j and 110 k,respectively. In some implementations, the Right and Left devices 110 jand 102 k can be configured to form surround or “satellite” channels ofa home theater system. The bonded playback devices 110 h, 110 i, 110 j,and 110 k may form a single Zone D (FIG. 1M).

Playback devices that are merged may not have assigned playbackresponsibilities, and may each render the full range of audio contentthe respective playback device is capable of. Nevertheless, mergeddevices may be represented as a single UI entity (i.e., a zone, asdiscussed above). For instance, the playback devices 110 a and 110 n themaster bathroom have the single UI entity of Zone A. In one embodiment,the playback devices 110 a and 110 n may each output the full range ofaudio content each respective playback devices 110 a and 110 n arecapable of, in synchrony.

In some embodiments, an NMD is bonded or merged with another device soas to form a zone. For example, the NMD 120 b may be bonded with theplayback device 110 e, which together form Zone F, named Living Room. Inother embodiments, a stand-alone network microphone device may be in azone by itself. In other embodiments, however, a stand-alone networkmicrophone device may not be associated with a zone. Additional detailsregarding associating network microphone devices and playback devices asdesignated or default devices may be found, for example, in previouslyreferenced U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/438,749.

Zones of individual, bonded, and/or merged devices may be grouped toform a zone group. For example, referring to FIG. 1M, Zone A may begrouped with Zone B to form a zone group 108 a that includes the twozones. Similarly, Zone G may be grouped with Zone H to form the zonegroup 108 b. As another example, Zone A may be grouped with one or moreother Zones C-I. The Zones A-I may be grouped and ungrouped in numerousways. For example, three, four, five, or more (e.g., all) of the ZonesA-I may be grouped. When grouped, the zones of individual and/or bondedplayback devices may play back audio in synchrony with one another, asdescribed in previously referenced U.S. Pat. No. 8,234,395. Playbackdevices may be dynamically grouped and ungrouped to form new ordifferent groups that synchronously play back audio content.

In various implementations, the zones in an environment may be thedefault name of a zone within the group or a combination of the names ofthe zones within a zone group. For example, Zone Group 108 b can have beassigned a name such as “Dining+Kitchen”, as shown in FIG. 1M. In someembodiments, a zone group may be given a unique name selected by a user.

Certain data may be stored in a memory of a playback device (e.g., thememory 112 b of FIG. 1C) as one or more state variables that areperiodically updated and used to describe the state of a playback zone,the playback device(s), and/or a zone group associated therewith. Thememory may also include the data associated with the state of the otherdevices of the media system, and shared from time to time among thedevices so that one or more of the devices have the most recent dataassociated with the system.

In some embodiments, the memory may store instances of various variabletypes associated with the states. Variables instances may be stored withidentifiers (e.g., tags) corresponding to type. For example, certainidentifiers may be a first type “a1” to identify playback device(s) of azone, a second type “b1” to identify playback device(s) that may bebonded in the zone, and a third type “c1” to identify a zone group towhich the zone may belong. As a related example, identifiers associatedwith the second bedroom 101 c may indicate that the playback device isthe only playback device of the Zone C and not in a zone group.Identifiers associated with the Den may indicate that the Den is notgrouped with other zones but includes bonded playback devices 110 h-110k. Identifiers associated with the Dining Room may indicate that theDining Room is part of the Dining+Kitchen zone group 108 b and thatdevices 110 b and 110 d are grouped (FIG. 1L). Identifiers associatedwith the Kitchen may indicate the same or similar information by virtueof the Kitchen being part of the Dining+Kitchen zone group 108 b. Otherexample zone variables and identifiers are described below.

In yet another example, the media playback system 100 may variables oridentifiers representing other associations of zones and zone groups,such as identifiers associated with Areas, as shown in FIG. 1M. An areamay involve a cluster of zone groups and/or zones not within a zonegroup. For instance, FIG. 1M shows an Upper Area 109 a including ZonesA-D, and a Lower Area 109 b including Zones E-I. In one aspect, an Areamay be used to invoke a cluster of zone groups and/or zones that shareone or more zones and/or zone groups of another cluster. In anotheraspect, this differs from a zone group, which does not share a zone withanother zone group. Further examples of techniques for implementingAreas may be found, for example, in U.S. application Ser. No. 15/682,506filed Aug. 21, 2017 and titled “Room Association Based on Name,” andU.S. Pat. No. 8,483,853 filed Sep. 11, 2007, and titled “Controlling andmanipulating groupings in a multi-zone media system.” Each of theseapplications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Insome embodiments, the media playback system 100 may not implement Areas,in which case the system may not store variables associated with Areas.

III. Example Systems and Devices

FIG. 2A is a front isometric view of a playback device 210 configured inaccordance with aspects of the disclosed technology. FIG. 2B is a frontisometric view of the playback device 210 without a grille 216 e. FIG.2C is an exploded view of the playback device 210. Referring to FIGS.2A-2C together, the playback device 210 comprises a housing 216 thatincludes an upper portion 216 a, a right or first side portion 216 b, alower portion 216 c, a left or second side portion 216 d, the grille 216e, and a rear portion 216 f. A plurality of fasteners 216 g (e.g., oneor more screws, rivets, clips) attaches a frame 216 h to the housing216. A cavity 216 j (FIG. 2C) in the housing 216 is configured toreceive the frame 216 h and electronics 212. The frame 216 h isconfigured to carry a plurality of transducers 214 (identifiedindividually in FIG. 2B as transducers 214 a-f). The electronics 212(e.g., the electronics 112 of FIG. 1C) is configured to receive audiocontent from an audio source and send electrical signals correspondingto the audio content to the transducers 214 for playback.

The transducers 214 are configured to receive the electrical signalsfrom the electronics 112, and further configured to convert the receivedelectrical signals into audible sound during playback. For instance, thetransducers 214 a-c (e.g., tweeters) can be configured to output highfrequency sound (e.g., sound waves having a frequency greater than about2 kHz). The transducers 214 d-f (e.g., mid-woofers, woofers, midrangespeakers) can be configured output sound at frequencies lower than thetransducers 214 a-c (e.g., sound waves having a frequency lower thanabout 2 kHz). In some embodiments, the playback device 210 includes anumber of transducers different than those illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2C.For example, as described in further detail below with respect to FIGS.3A-3C, the playback device 210 can include fewer than six transducers(e.g., one, two, three). In other embodiments, however, the playbackdevice 210 includes more than six transducers (e.g., nine, ten).Moreover, in some embodiments, all or a portion of the transducers 214are configured to operate as a phased array to desirably adjust (e.g.,narrow or widen) a radiation pattern of the transducers 214, therebyaltering a user's perception of the sound emitted from the playbackdevice 210.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 2A-2C, a filter 216 i is axiallyaligned with the transducer 214 b. The filter 216 i can be configured todesirably attenuate a predetermined range of frequencies that thetransducer 214 b outputs to improve sound quality and a perceived soundstage output collectively by the transducers 214. In some embodiments,however, the playback device 210 omits the filter 216 i. In otherembodiments, the playback device 210 includes one or more additionalfilters aligned with the transducers 214 b and/or at least another ofthe transducers 214.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are front and right isometric side views, respectively,of an NMD 320 configured in accordance with embodiments of the disclosedtechnology. FIG. 3C is an exploded view of the NMD 320. FIG. 3D is anenlarged view of a portion of FIG. 3B including a user interface 313 ofthe NMD 320. Referring first to FIGS. 3A-3C, the NMD 320 includes ahousing 316 comprising an upper portion 316 a, a lower portion 316 b andan intermediate portion 316 c (e.g., a grille). A plurality of ports,holes or apertures 316 d in the upper portion 316 a allow sound to passthrough to one or more microphones 315 (FIG. 3C) positioned within thehousing 316. The one or more microphones 315 are configured to receivedsound via the apertures 316 d and produce electrical signals based onthe received sound. In the illustrated embodiment, a frame 316 e (FIG.3C) of the housing 316 surrounds cavities 316 f and 316 g configured tohouse, respectively, a first transducer 314 a (e.g., a tweeter) and asecond transducer 314 b (e.g., a mid-woofer, a midrange speaker, awoofer). In other embodiments, however, the NMD 320 includes a singletransducer, or more than two (e.g., two, five, six) transducers. Incertain embodiments, the NMD 320 omits the transducers 314 a and 314 baltogether.

Electronics 312 (FIG. 3C) includes components configured to drive thetransducers 314 a and 314 b, and further configured to analyze audioinformation corresponding to the electrical signals produced by the oneor more microphones 315. In some embodiments, for example, theelectronics 312 comprises many or all of the components of theelectronics 112 described above with respect to FIG. 1C. In certainembodiments, the electronics 312 includes components described abovewith respect to FIG. 1F such as, for example, the one or more processors112 a, the memory 112 b, the software components 112 c, the networkinterface 112 d, etc. In some embodiments, the electronics 312 includesadditional suitable components (e.g., proximity or other sensors).

Referring to FIG. 3D, the user interface 313 includes a plurality ofcontrol surfaces (e.g., buttons, knobs, capacitive surfaces) including afirst control surface 313 a (e.g., a previous control), a second controlsurface 313 b (e.g., a next control), and a third control surface 313 c(e.g., a play and/or pause control). A fourth control surface 313 d isconfigured to receive touch input corresponding to activation anddeactivation of the one or microphones 315. A first indicator 313 e(e.g., one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) or another suitableilluminator) can be configured to illuminate only when the one or moremicrophones 315 are activated. A second indicator 313 f (e.g., one ormore LEDs) can be configured to remain solid during normal operation andto blink or otherwise change from solid to indicate a detection of voiceactivity. In some embodiments, the user interface 313 includesadditional or fewer control surfaces and illuminators. In oneembodiment, for example, the user interface 313 includes the firstindicator 313 e, omitting the second indicator 313 f Moreover, incertain embodiments, the NMD 320 comprises a playback device and acontrol device, and the user interface 313 comprises the user interfaceof the control device.

Referring to FIGS. 3A-3D together, the NMD 320 is configured to receivevoice commands from one or more adjacent users via the one or moremicrophones 315. As described above with respect to FIG. 1B, the one ormore microphones 315 can acquire, capture, or record sound in a vicinity(e.g., a region within 10 m or less of the NMD 320) and transmitelectrical signals corresponding to the recorded sound to theelectronics 312. The electronics 312 can process the electrical signalsand can analyze the resulting audio data to determine a presence of oneor more voice commands (e.g., one or more activation words). In someembodiments, for example, after detection of one or more suitable voicecommands, the NMD 320 is configured to transmit a portion of therecorded audio data to another device and/or a remote server (e.g., oneor more of the computing devices 106 of FIG. 1B) for further analysis.The remote server can analyze the audio data, determine an appropriateaction based on the voice command, and transmit a message to the NMD 320to perform the appropriate action. For instance, a user may speak“Sonos, play Michael Jackson.” The NMD 320 can, via the one or moremicrophones 315, record the user's voice utterance, determine thepresence of a voice command, and transmit the audio data having thevoice command to a remote server (e.g., one or more of the remotecomputing devices 106 of FIG. 1B, one or more servers of a VAS and/oranother suitable service). The remote server can analyze the audio dataand determine an action corresponding to the command. The remote servercan then transmit a command to the NMD 320 to perform the determinedaction (e.g., play back audio content related to Michael Jackson). TheNMD 320 can receive the command and play back the audio content relatedto Michael Jackson from a media content source. As described above withrespect to FIG. 1B, suitable content sources can include a device orstorage communicatively coupled to the NMD 320 via a LAN (e.g., thenetwork 104 of FIG. 1B), a remote server (e.g., one or more of theremote computing devices 106 of FIG. 1B), etc. In certain embodiments,however, the NMD 320 determines and/or performs one or more actionscorresponding to the one or more voice commands without intervention orinvolvement of an external device, computer, or server.

FIG. 3E is a functional block diagram showing additional features of theNMD 320 in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. The NMD 320includes components configured to facilitate voice command captureincluding voice activity detector component(s) 312 k, beam formercomponents 312 l, acoustic echo cancellation (AEC) and/or self-soundsuppression components 312 m, activation word detector components 312 n,and voice/speech conversion components 312 o (e.g., voice-to-text andtext-to-voice). In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 3E, the foregoingcomponents 312 k-312 o are shown as separate components. In someembodiments, however, one or more of the components 312 k-312 o aresubcomponents of the processors 112 a.

The beamforming and self-sound suppression components 312 l and 312 mare configured to detect an audio signal and determine aspects of voiceinput represented in the detected audio signal, such as the direction,amplitude, frequency spectrum, etc. The voice activity detector activitycomponents 312 k are operably coupled with the beamforming and AECcomponents 312 l and 312 m and are configured to determine a directionand/or directions from which voice activity is likely to have occurredin the detected audio signal. Potential speech directions can beidentified by monitoring metrics which distinguish speech from othersounds. Such metrics can include, for example, energy within the speechband relative to background noise and entropy within the speech band,which is measure of spectral structure. As those of ordinary skill inthe art will appreciate, speech typically has a lower entropy than mostcommon background noise. The activation word detector components 312 nare configured to monitor and analyze received audio to determine if anyactivation words (e.g., wake words) are present in the received audio.The activation word detector components 312 n may analyze the receivedaudio using an activation word detection algorithm. If the activationword detector 312 n detects an activation word, the NMD 320 may processvoice input contained in the received audio. Example activation worddetection algorithms accept audio as input and provide an indication ofwhether an activation word is present in the audio. Many first- andthird-party activation word detection algorithms are known andcommercially available. For instance, operators of a voice service maymake their algorithm available for use in third-party devices.Alternatively, an algorithm may be trained to detect certain activationwords. In some embodiments, the activation word detector 312 n runsmultiple activation word detection algorithms on the received audiosimultaneously (or substantially simultaneously). As noted above,different voice services (e.g. AMAZON's ALEXA®, APPLE's SIRI®, orMICROSOFT's CORTANA®) can each use a different activation word forinvoking their respective voice service. To support multiple services,the activation word detector 312 n may run the received audio throughthe activation word detection algorithm for each supported voice servicein parallel.

The speech/text conversion components 312 o may facilitate processing byconverting speech in the voice input to text. In some embodiments, theelectronics 312 can include voice recognition software that is trainedto a particular user or a particular set of users associated with ahousehold. Such voice recognition software may implementvoice-processing algorithms that are tuned to specific voice profile(s).Tuning to specific voice profiles may require less computationallyintensive algorithms than traditional voice activity services, whichtypically sample from a broad base of users and diverse requests thatare not targeted to media playback systems.

FIG. 3F is a schematic diagram of an example voice input 328 captured bythe NMD 320 in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. The voiceinput 328 can include an activation word portion 328 a and a voiceutterance portion 328 b. In some embodiments, the activation word 557 acan be a known activation word, such as “Alexa,” which is associatedwith AMAZON's ALEXA®. In other embodiments, however, the voice input 328may not include an activation word. In some embodiments, a networkmicrophone device may output an audible and/or visible response upondetection of the activation word portion 328 a. In addition oralternately, an NMB may output an audible and/or visible response afterprocessing a voice input and/or a series of voice inputs.

The voice utterance portion 328 b may include, for example, one or morespoken commands (identified individually as a first command 328 c and asecond command 328 e) and one or more spoken keywords (identifiedindividually as a first keyword 328 d and a second keyword 328 f). Inone example, the first command 328 c can be a command to play music,such as a specific song, album, playlist, etc. In this example, thekeywords may be one or words identifying one or more zones in which themusic is to be played, such as the Living Room and the Dining Room shownin FIG. 1A. In some examples, the voice utterance portion 328 b caninclude other information, such as detected pauses (e.g., periods ofnon-speech) between words spoken by a user, as shown in FIG. 3F. Thepauses may demarcate the locations of separate commands, keywords, orother information spoke by the user within the voice utterance portion328 b.

In some embodiments, the media playback system 100 is configured totemporarily reduce the volume of audio content that it is playing whiledetecting the activation word portion 557 a. The media playback system100 may restore the volume after processing the voice input 328, asshown in FIG. 3F. Such a process can be referred to as ducking, examplesof which are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/438,749,incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIGS. 4A-4D are schematic diagrams of a control device 430 (e.g., thecontrol device 130 a of FIG. 1H, a smartphone, a tablet, a dedicatedcontrol device, an IoT device, and/or another suitable device) showingcorresponding user interface displays in various states of operation. Afirst user interface display 431 a (FIG. 4A) includes a display name 433a (i.e., “Rooms”). A selected group region 433 b displays audio contentinformation (e.g., artist name, track name, album art) of audio contentplayed back in the selected group and/or zone. Group regions 433 c and433 d display corresponding group and/or zone name, and audio contentinformation audio content played back or next in a playback queue of therespective group or zone. An audio content region 433 e includesinformation related to audio content in the selected group and/or zone(i.e., the group and/or zone indicated in the selected group region 433b). A lower display region 433 f is configured to receive touch input todisplay one or more other user interface displays. For example, if auser selects “Browse” in the lower display region 433 f, the controldevice 430 can be configured to output a second user interface display431 b (FIG. 4B) comprising a plurality of music services 433 g (e.g.,Spotify, Radio by Tunein, Apple Music, Pandora, Amazon, TV, local music,line-in) through which the user can browse and from which the user canselect media content for play back via one or more playback devices(e.g., one of the playback devices 110 of FIG. 1A). Alternatively, ifthe user selects “My Sonos” in the lower display region 433 f, thecontrol device 430 can be configured to output a third user interfacedisplay 431 c (FIG. 4C). A first media content region 433 h can includegraphical representations (e.g., album art) corresponding to individualalbums, stations, or playlists. A second media content region 433 i caninclude graphical representations (e.g., album art) corresponding toindividual songs, tracks, or other media content. If the user selectionsa graphical representation 433 j (FIG. 4C), the control device 430 canbe configured to begin play back of audio content corresponding to thegraphical representation 433 j and output a fourth user interfacedisplay 431 d fourth user interface display 431 d includes an enlargedversion of the graphical representation 433 j, media content information433 k (e.g., track name, artist, album), transport controls 433 m (e.g.,play, previous, next, pause, volume), and indication 433 n of thecurrently selected group and/or zone name.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a control device 530 (e.g., a laptopcomputer, a desktop computer). The control device 530 includestransducers 534, a microphone 535, and a camera 536. A user interface531 includes a transport control region 533 a, a playback status region533 b, a playback zone region 533 c, a playback queue region 533 d, anda media content source region 533 e. The transport control regioncomprises one or more controls for controlling media playback including,for example, volume, previous, play/pause, next, repeat, shuffle, trackposition, crossfade, equalization, etc. The audio content source region533 e includes a listing of one or more media content sources from whicha user can select media items for play back and/or adding to a playbackqueue.

The playback zone region 533 b can include representations of playbackzones within the media playback system 100 (FIGS. 1A and 1B). In someembodiments, the graphical representations of playback zones may beselectable to bring up additional selectable icons to manage orconfigure the playback zones in the media playback system, such as acreation of bonded zones, creation of zone groups, separation of zonegroups, renaming of zone groups, etc. In the illustrated embodiment, a“group” icon is provided within each of the graphical representations ofplayback zones. The “group” icon provided within a graphicalrepresentation of a particular zone may be selectable to bring upoptions to select one or more other zones in the media playback systemto be grouped with the particular zone. Once grouped, playback devicesin the zones that have been grouped with the particular zone can beconfigured to play audio content in synchrony with the playbackdevice(s) in the particular zone. Analogously, a “group” icon may beprovided within a graphical representation of a zone group. In theillustrated embodiment, the “group” icon may be selectable to bring upoptions to deselect one or more zones in the zone group to be removedfrom the zone group. In some embodiments, the control device 530includes other interactions and implementations for grouping andungrouping zones via the user interface 531. In certain embodiments, therepresentations of playback zones in the playback zone region 533 b canbe dynamically updated as a playback zone or zone group configurationsare modified.

The playback status region 533 c includes graphical representations ofaudio content that is presently being played, previously played, orscheduled to play next in the selected playback zone or zone group. Theselected playback zone or zone group may be visually distinguished onthe user interface, such as within the playback zone region 533 b and/orthe playback queue region 533 d. The graphical representations mayinclude track title, artist name, album name, album year, track length,and other relevant information that may be useful for the user to knowwhen controlling the media playback system 100 via the user interface531.

The playback queue region 533 d includes graphical representations ofaudio content in a playback queue associated with the selected playbackzone or zone group. In some embodiments, each playback zone or zonegroup may be associated with a playback queue containing informationcorresponding to zero or more audio items for playback by the playbackzone or zone group. For instance, each audio item in the playback queuemay comprise a uniform resource identifier (URI), a uniform resourcelocator (URL) or some other identifier that may be used by a playbackdevice in the playback zone or zone group to find and/or retrieve theaudio item from a local audio content source or a networked audiocontent source, possibly for playback by the playback device. In someembodiments, for example, a playlist can be added to a playback queue,in which information corresponding to each audio item in the playlistmay be added to the playback queue. In some embodiments, audio items ina playback queue may be saved as a playlist. In certain embodiments, aplayback queue may be empty, or populated but “not in use” when theplayback zone or zone group is playing continuously streaming audiocontent, such as Internet radio that may continue to play untilotherwise stopped, rather than discrete audio items that have playbackdurations. In some embodiments, a playback queue can include Internetradio and/or other streaming audio content items and be “in use” whenthe playback zone or zone group is playing those items.

When playback zones or zone groups are “grouped” or “ungrouped,”playback queues associated with the affected playback zones or zonegroups may be cleared or re-associated. For example, if a first playbackzone including a first playback queue is grouped with a second playbackzone including a second playback queue, the established zone group mayhave an associated playback queue that is initially empty, that containsaudio items from the first playback queue (such as if the secondplayback zone was added to the first playback zone), that contains audioitems from the second playback queue (such as if the first playback zonewas added to the second playback zone), or a combination of audio itemsfrom both the first and second playback queues. Subsequently, if theestablished zone group is ungrouped, the resulting first playback zonemay be re-associated with the previous first playback queue, or beassociated with a new playback queue that is empty or contains audioitems from the playback queue associated with the established zone groupbefore the established zone group was ungrouped. Similarly, theresulting second playback zone may be re-associated with the previoussecond playback queue, or be associated with a new playback queue thatis empty, or contains audio items from the playback queue associatedwith the established zone group before the established zone group wasungrouped.

FIG. 6 is a message flow diagram illustrating data exchanges betweendevices of the media playback system 100 (FIGS. 1A-1M).

At step 650 a, the media playback system 100 receives an indication ofselected media content (e.g., one or more songs, albums, playlists,podcasts, videos, stations) via the control device 130 a. The selectedmedia content can comprise, for example, media items stored locally onor more devices (e.g., the audio source 105 of FIG. 1C) connected to themedia playback system and/or media items stored on one or more mediaservice servers (one or more of the remote computing devices 106 of FIG.1B). In response to receiving the indication of the selected mediacontent, the control device 130 a transmits a message 651 a to theplayback device 110 a (FIGS. 1A-1C) to add the selected media content toa playback queue on the playback device 110 a.

At step 650 b, the playback device 110 a receives the message 651 a andadds the selected media content to the playback queue for play back.

At step 650 c, the control device 130 a receives input corresponding toa command to play back the selected media content. In response toreceiving the input corresponding to the command to play back theselected media content, the control device 130 a transmits a message 651b to the playback device 110 a causing the playback device 110 a to playback the selected media content. In response to receiving the message651 b, the playback device 110 a transmits a message 651 c to the firstcomputing device 106 a requesting the selected media content. The firstcomputing device 106 a, in response to receiving the message 651 c,transmits a message 651 d comprising data (e.g., audio data, video data,a URL, a URI) corresponding to the requested media content.

At step 650 d, the playback device 110 a receives the message 651 d withthe data corresponding to the requested media content and plays back theassociated media content.

At step 650 e, the playback device 110 a optionally causes one or moreother devices to play back the selected media content. In one example,the playback device 110 a is one of a bonded zone of two or more players(FIG. 1M). The playback device 110 a can receive the selected mediacontent and transmit all or a portion of the media content to otherdevices in the bonded zone. In another example, the playback device 110a is a coordinator of a group and is configured to transmit and receivetiming information from one or more other devices in the group. Theother one or more devices in the group can receive the selected mediacontent from the first computing device 106 a, and begin playback of theselected media content in response to a message from the playback device110 a such that all of the devices in the group play back the selectedmedia content in synchrony.

IV. Wireless Power Transfer Devices and Associated Systems and Methods

Audio playback devices capable of receiving wireless power provideseveral distinct advantages over conventional wired devices. Forexample, there is no need to hide unsightly power cords by routing themthrough a wall or underneath furniture. Wireless power transfer may alsoallow a user to reposition devices more easily around a home or roomwithout needing to disconnect or re-route power cords. To enable thisfunctionality, one or more wireless power transmitter devices can beprovided in the vicinity of an audio playback device having a wirelesspower receiver therein. Such a transmitter device can include anotherplayback device (e.g., a soundbar, subwoofer, or any playback devicehaving a wired power connection), or a non-playback device (e.g., apower hub that provides wireless power to the playback device withoutitself driving audio output). In some examples, one or more playbackdevices can include both a wireless power receiver and a wireless powertransmitter, such that these devices may be used in eitherconfiguration, or in some instances may be used in both configurationssimultaneously (e.g., as a “relay” in which a device receives wirelesspower from an external transmitter device and transmits wireless powerto an external receiver device). In some instances, a plurality of suchplayback devices can transfer wireless power among one another in a meshconfiguration, with the particular device-to-device transmission beingselected to provide the desired power levels, device performance, anduser experience.

As used herein, a “wireless power transmitter” or “transmitter device”includes any device (or component(s) of a device) capable of sendingwireless power that can be received and recovered by a suitable receiverdevice. Similarly, a “wireless power receiver” or “receiver device”includes any device (or component(s) of a device) capable of receivingwireless power from a remote transmitter device and utilizing that powerto operate one or more components of the receiver device (e.g., to powerat least one amplifier of a playback device). In various examples, asingle playback device (or other device) can be both a wireless powertransmitter and a wireless power receiver, while in other examples aparticular device may be only a transmitter device or only a receiverdevice.

In various examples disclosed herein, such wireless power transfer caninclude mid- or long-range wireless power transfer. As used herein, mid-and long-range wireless power transfer includes wireless power transferover a distance of greater than about 10 cm, or in some examples greaterthan about 50 cm or greater than about 1 m. For example, in someinstances a wireless power transmitter device and a wireless powerreceiver device can be separated from one another by at least about 10cm, at least about 50 cm, or at least about 1 m during wireless powertransfer.

As noted elsewhere herein, such mid- or long-range wireless powertransfer technologies include radiative techniques (e.g., lasers, radiowaves, microwaves, or other such propagation of electromagneticradiation from the transmitter device towards the receiver device). Invarious examples, the wireless power receiver in such instances caninclude a photovoltaic cell, a diode, an antenna (e.g., a rectenna), orother suitable hardware that can convert electromagnetic radiation intoelectrical energy. Similarly, the wireless power transmitter in suchinstances can include an optical source such as a laser, a microwavesource, an antenna (e.g., directional antennas, phased array antennas,etc.), or other suitable source of electromagnetic radiation.

Additionally or alternatively, such mid- or long-range wireless powertransmission can include non-radiative transmission such aselectromagnetic coupling (e.g., inductive coupling, resonant inductivecoupling, capacitive coupling, resonant capacitive coupling,magnetodynamic coupling, etc.). In such instances, both the wirelesspower transmitter and the wireless power receiver can includeelectrically conductive coils (e.g., in the case of inductive coupling),electrodes (e.g., in the case of capacitive coupling), or rotatingarmatures carrying magnets thereon (e.g., in the case of magnetodynamiccoupling).

a. Suitable Wireless Power Transfer Device Components

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless power transfer (WPT)device 700. In some examples, the device 700 can be coupled to,integrated into, or included within a playback device (e.g., playbackdevice 110 a of FIG. 1C), an NMD (e.g., NMD 120 a of FIG. 1F), or othersuitable device.

Referring to FIG. 7 , the WPT device 700 includes one or more processors702, a network interface 704, and memory 706. These can be similar to,identical to, or include, processors 112 a, network interface 112 d, andmemory 112 b described above with respect to FIGS. 1C and 1F. In variousexamples, the wireless power transfer device 700 can include any or allof the features of playback device 110 a or NMD 120 a describedpreviously herein. In some examples, the network interface 704 caninclude one or more transceivers that are configured to communicate viaat least one WIFI network, and/or at least one BLUETOOTH network.

WPT device 700 optionally includes a wired power input port 708 that isconfigured to be electrically coupled to wired power 710 (e.g., via110/220V wall power, a USB-C charger, etc.), such as an AC power port ora USB port (e.g., a USB TYPE-A port, a USB TYPE-B port, a USB TYPE-Cport, etc.). The power input port 708 can be coupled (e.g., via cable)directly to a household power outlet (e.g., to receive alternatingcurrent (AC) power) or indirectly via a power adapter (e.g., a devicethat converts the AC power from the household power outlet to directcurrent (DC) power). In some examples, the wired power input port 708 isomitted, and the WPT device 700 operates solely on the basis of powerreceived wirelessly from external transmitter device(s) and/or energygenerated via energy harvester(s) 716.

The WPT device 700 further includes an energy storage component 712,which can take the form of a rechargeable battery, a capacitor, asupercapacitor, or any other suitable component that can store energy.The energy storage component 712 can be configured to store energy andto facilitate operation of the device (e.g., powering one or moreamplifiers of a playback device). In this regard, the energy storagecomponent 712 can be a battery that has a chemistry that facilitatesrecharging the battery, such as lithium-ion (Li-ion), nickel-metalhydride (NiMH), nickel-cadmium (NiCd), etc. The battery can be sizedsuch that the processor(s) 702 and other components of the WPT device700 can operate on battery power alone for an extended amount of timewithout the battery needing to be recharged. For example, the batterycan have a 20 watt-hours (Wh) capacity that facilitates continuousplayback of audio for at least 4 hours on battery power alone. Thebattery can be charged using power from one or more other components inthe device 700 (e.g., wired power input port 708, wireless powerreceiver 720, energy harvester 716, etc.).

As noted previously, in some examples, the wireless power device 700 caninclude audio playback components 714 (e.g., one or more transducers,audio processing circuitry, microphones, voice processing circuitry,etc.), and as such the WPT device 700 can include or be part of an audioplayback device or a network microphone device as described elsewhereherein. In various examples, such an audio playback device can be asoundbar, a subwoofer, a headphone device, a hearable device, a portableaudio playback device, an architectural playback device, or a videoplayback device

The WPT device 700 optionally includes one or more energy harvesters716. Energy harvesters 716 may include those devices configured toderive power from energy sources in the environment (e.g., solar energy,thermal energy, wind energy, salinity gradients, kinetic energy, soundenergy, etc.). For example, the energy harvesters 716 can include one ormore photovoltaic cells configured to convert received light into avoltage. Any of a variety of energy harvesters 716 may be included inthe WPT device 700. Examples of such energy harvesters includephotovoltaic cells, thermoelectric generators, micro wind turbines,piezoelectric crystals, electroacoustic transducers, and kinetic energyharvesters.

The WPT device additionally includes a wireless power transmitter 718, awireless power receiver 720, and power circuitry 722. In operation, theWPT device 700 can receive wireless power from an external transmitterdevice via the receiver 720, and can transmit wireless power to anexternal receiver device via the transmitter 720, with the powercircuitry 722 controlling some or all of the functions associated withthese operations.

The wireless power transmitter 718 can include any component orcombination of components capable of transmitting wireless power to anexternal wireless power receiver device. Such wireless power transfercan include mid- or long-range wireless power transfer, for examplebeing configured to provide effective power transfer with thetransmitter and receiver separated from one another by a distance ofgreater than about 10 cm, or in some examples greater than about 50 cmor greater than about 1 m. In various examples, the wireless powertransmitter 718 can transmit power via radiative techniques such asusing lasers, radio waves, microwaves, or other such techniquesinvolving propagation of electromagnetic radiation from the transmitterdevice towards the receiver device. In various embodiments, suchelectromagnetic radiation may be directional (e.g., directed towards oneor more receiver devices) or omnidirectional (e.g., radiating insubstantially all directions from the wireless power transmitter 718).In various examples, the wireless power transmitter 718 in suchinstances can include an optical source such as a laser, a microwavesource, an antenna (e.g., directional antennas, phased array antennas,etc.), or any other source of electromagnetic radiation. In someinstances, the wireless power transmitter 718 can include one or moresteering components configured to direct, focus, or steer wirelesspower. Such steering components can include, for example, one or morelenses, mirrors, directional antennas, or other suitable components.

Additionally or alternatively, the wireless power transmitter 718 can beconfigured to transmit wireless power using non-radiative techniquessuch as electromagnetic coupling (e.g., inductive coupling, resonantinductive coupling, capacitive coupling, resonant capacitive coupling,magnetodynamic coupling, etc.). In such instances, the wireless powertransmitter 718 can include electrically conductive coils (e.g., in thecase of inductive coupling), electrodes (e.g., in the case of capacitivecoupling), rotating armatures carrying magnets thereon (e.g., in thecase of magnetodynamic coupling), or any other suitable structurecapable of receiving power wirelessly via electromagnetic coupling.

The wireless power receiver 720 can include any component or structureconfigured to receive power wirelessly (e.g., via inductance, resonance,radiation, etc.) from an external wireless transmitter device. As notedpreviously, such wireless power transfer can include mid- or long-rangewireless power transfer, for example being configured to provideeffective power transfer with the transmitter and receiver separatedfrom one another by a distance of greater than about 10 cm, or in someexamples greater than about 50 cm or greater than about 1 m. In variousexamples, the wireless power receiver 720 can receive power viaradiative techniques such as lasers, radio waves, microwaves, or othersuch techniques involving propagation of electromagnetic radiation fromthe transmitter device towards the receiver device. The wireless powerreceiver 720 in such instances can include an optical receiver such as adiode, a photovoltaic cell, an antenna (e.g., a rectenna), or othersuitable hardware that can convert electromagnetic radiation intoelectrical energy.

Additionally or alternatively, the wireless power receiver 720 can beconfigured to receive wireless power using non-radiative techniques suchas electromagnetic coupling (e.g., inductive coupling, resonantinductive coupling, capacitive coupling, resonant capacitive coupling,magnetodynamic coupling, etc.). In such instances, the wireless powerreceiver 720 can include electrically conductive coils (e.g., in thecase of inductive coupling), electrodes (e.g., in the case of capacitivecoupling), a rotating armature carrying a magnets thereon (e.g., in thecase of magnetodynamic coupling), or any other suitable structurecapable of receiving power wirelessly via electromagnetic coupling.

With continued reference to FIG. 7 , the WPT device 700 can includepower circuitry 722 configured to receive power from the energy storagecomponent 712, the wired power input 708, and/or the wireless powerreceiver 720, and, using the power obtained therefrom, drive anamplifier and/or a electroacoustic transducer with an audio output basedon source audio. The power circuitry 722 can be configured to performany of a variety of power-related tasks including, for example, one ormore of the following: (1) power conversion (e.g., AC-AC conversion,AC-DC conversion, DC-AC conversion, and/or DC-DC conversion); (2) powerregulation; (3) battery charging; and/or (4) power monitoring (e.g.,battery monitoring). Examples of electrical components that may beintegrated into the power circuitry 722 include transformers,rectifiers, inverters, converters, regulators, battery chargers, and/orpower management integrated circuits (PMICs). In some examples, suchpower circuitry 722 can be integrated into either or both the wirelesspower transmitter 718 and the wireless power receiver 720.

In some examples, the power circuitry 722 can include battery circuitrythat facilitates monitoring a state of a battery. In these examples, thebattery circuitry can identify battery state information that includesinformation regarding one or more of the following battery states: astate-of-charge (SoC), temperature, age, and/or internal impedance. Thebattery circuitry can communicate the battery state information to, forexample, the processor 702.

The power circuitry 722 can include regulation circuitry thatfacilitates converting a variable amount of voltage (e.g., a variablevoltage from a battery, a variable voltage from an energy harvester,etc.) to a stable DC voltage. For example, the regulation circuitry caninclude switching regulator circuitry such as buck, boost, buck-boost,flyback, resonant, etc. switching regulator circuitry. The regulationcircuitry can include one or more linear voltage regulators such aslow-dropout (LDO) regulators. The regulation circuitry can be configuredto output one or more fixed DC voltages (e.g., ±5V, ±12V) or ACvoltages.

b. Wireless Power Group Examples

FIG. 8 shows interactions among a power group, which includes aplurality of WPT devices that can transfer power and/or data among oneanother. In the example shown in FIG. 8 , the group includes a powergroup coordinator 800, and first and second power group members 850 aand 850 b. Each of the power group coordinator 800 and the power groupmembers 850 a and 850 b can include some or all of the componentsdescribed above with respect to the WPT device 700 of FIG. 7 . In someexamples, some or all of these devices can include or be audio playbackdevices. Although the illustrated group includes three devices, invarious examples there may be one, two, four, five, or many more powergroup members (not shown).

As used herein, a “power group” can include two or more devices that areconfigured to wirelessly transfer power therebetween. In the illustratedexample, the coordinator 800 transmits wireless power (e.g., viawireless power transmitter 718) to each of the first power group member850 a and the second power group member 850 b. Additionally, the firstgroup member 850 a transmits wireless power to the second power groupmember 850 b. In alternative examples, the power group coordinator 800may transmit wireless power to fewer than all members of the wirelesspower group, with one or more group members 850 transmitting power toother group members 850 such that each device of the group receives ortransmits wireless power to or from at least one other device of thegroup.

In the illustrated example, the power group coordinator 800 does notinclude a wireless power receiver 720, and it is connected to wiredpower 710. However, in other instances the power group coordinator 800may have no connection to wired power 710, and may itself only bepowered via wireless power transmission and/or energy harvesting. Insome examples, one or more of the power group members 850 may beconnected to wired power instead of or in addition to receiving wirelesspower from other group members.

As used herein, a “power group coordinator” can include a wireless powertransfer device that is configured to transmit instructions to one ormore power group members to initiate, cease, or modulate wireless powertransmission therebetween. For example, a power group coordinator maycause the first power group member 850 a to initiate wireless powertransmission to the second power group member 850 b. As described inmore detail elsewhere herein, in some examples wireless powertransmission may be initiated, ceased, or modified based on a number ofparameters (e.g., a battery level of a device, a level or rate orwireless power received at a device, audio playback levels, etc.). Insome examples, such parameters may be determined by or transmitted tothe power group coordinator 800, which may then determine anyappropriate modifications to wireless power transfer within the group,and may transmit instructions to group members accordingly.

In at least some instances, there may be no power coordinator. In suchcases, each wireless power transfer device may independently determinewhether, how, and when to transmit or receive wireless power from anyexternal transmitter or receiver devices.

As noted previously, in some examples a plurality of audio playbackdevices can be grouped together for synchronous audio playback (e.g., asa bonded zone). In such instances, one of the playback devices may be acoordinator of the group, and may transmit and receive timinginformation from one or more other devices in the group. In variousexamples, the power group may be identical to the audio playback group.Alternatively, the power group may differ at least in part from anyaudio playback grouping. In at least some examples, the power groupcoordinator 800 may also serve as an audio playback group coordinator.In such cases, the power group coordinator 800 may transmit timing dataor other information to group members via a wireless network and/or viadata incorporated into the wireless power signals, as described in moredetail elsewhere herein. Alternatively, the power group coordinator 800and the audio playback group coordinator may be different devices. Instill other examples, the power group may be formed without any audioplayback grouping taking place, in which case there may be no audioplayback group coordinator.

V. Example Wireless Power Transfer Scenarios

FIGS. 9A-9X illustrate a variety of example scenarios in which wirelesspower transfer devices and associated methods can be employed. Thescenarios described herein are exemplary only, and one of ordinary skillin the art will understand that there are myriad variations in whichwireless power transfer may be usefully employed for audio playback andother applications. These examples illustrate interactions among a powergroup in which wireless power is transferred between group members in avariety of different arrangements. In various examples, the particularconfiguration of wireless power transfer within the power group can bepredetermined, or may be dynamically selected or determined at least inpart based on relevant parameters such as: stored energy levels some orall of the device(s), power consumption rate of some or all of thedevices, a rate of wireless power receipt at some or all of the devices,relative locations of some or all of the devices, a use parameter suchas a user's presence or absence, or any other parameter relevant topower storage, power transmission, or power consumption.

In FIG. 9A, a first WPT device 901 transmits wireless power to secondand third WPT devices 903 and 905. For example, the first WPT device 901can be a soundbar or other such audio playback device that has a wiredpower input. Optionally, the first WPT device 901 is integrated into orcommunicatively coupled (e.g., via a wired or wireless connection) to avideo playback device 907 such as a television. The second and third WPTdevices 903 and 905 may be audio playback devices configured to providesurround sound audio (e.g., second WPT device 903 may be a left rearsurround, and the third WPT device 905 may be a right rear surround).

In the scenario shown in FIG. 9A, the first WPT device 901 transmitswireless power to each of the second and third WPT devices 903 and 905.In the scenario shown in FIG. 9B, the first WPT device 901 transmitswireless power only to the first WPT device 903, which in turn transmitswireless power to the second WPT device 905. In this configuration, thefirst WPT device 903 acts as a “relay,” both receiving wireless powerfrom the first WPT device 901 and transmitting wireless power to thethird WPT device 905.

In the scenario illustrated in FIG. 9C, the user has moved into thetransmission path between the first WPT device 901 and the second WPTdevice 903. As the user's position may block wireless power transmissionbetween the first WPT device 901 and the second WPT device 903, the rateof wireless power received at the second WPT device 903 may fall. Tocontinue powering the first WPT device 903, the first WPT device 901 mayinstead transmit wireless power to the third WPT device 905, which inturn transmits wireless power to the second WPT 903.

In some examples, this transition can be effected based on adetermination that a rate or level of wireless power received at thesecond WPT 903 has decreased or fallen below a predetermined threshold.Additionally or alternatively, additional sensor(s) can be used todetect the presence of a user (or other object) blocking the line ofsight between the first WPT device 901 and the second WPT device 903.

FIG. 9D illustrates another arrangement in which the first WPT 901 alsoprovides wireless power to the video display device 907. Such wirelesspower transmission can be instead of or in addition to any wired powerprovided to the video display device 907.

In FIG. 9E, another WPT device 909 (e.g., an audio playback devicehaving its own wired power source) separately provides wireless power tothe second WPT device 903 while the first WPT device 901 provideswireless power to the third WPT 905. In some examples, the WPT device911 can be a subwoofer or other audio playback device having a wiredpower input.

In the scenario shown in FIG. 9F, the user has moved into the line ofsight between the WPT device 909 and the second WPT 903. In response,the configuration of wireless power transfer can be modified. Forexample, the first WPT device 901 may transmit wireless power instead tothe second WPT 903, while the WPT device 909 transmits wireless power tothe third WPT device 905.

FIG. 9G illustrates a configuration in which the second and third WPTdevices 903 and 905 are powered solely by the WPT device 909, with nowireless power transmitted from the first WPT 901. FIG. 9H illustratesthe scenario in which the second and third WPT devices 903 and 905 aremoved further from the WPT 909 and closer to the first WPT 901. Inresponse, the first WPT 901 may initiate wireless power transmission tothe second and third WPT devices 903 and 905, and the WPT device 909 maycease wireless power transmission. For example, as a level of wirelesspower received at certain devices falls, the system may reconfiguretransmission such that a different device begins to transmit wirelesspower to those devices.

FIGS. 9I-9K illustrate a configuration in which the first, second, andthird WPT devices 901, 903, and 905 are joined by two additional WPTdevices 911 and 913. These additional WPT devices 911 and 913 can be,for example, front left and front right surround playback devices. Inthe example shown in FIG. 9I, the first WPT device 901 transmitswireless power to all four WPT devices: 903, 905, 911, and 913. In theexample shown in FIG. 9J, the first WPT device 901 transmits wirelesspower to the first and second WPT devices 903 and 905, but theadditional WPT devices 911 and 913 do not receive wireless power fromthe other devices. In at least some cases, the devices 911 and 913 maybe audio playback devices that are powered over a wired connection, andoptionally are not capable of receiving wireless power from externaltransmitter devices. In the example shown in FIG. 9K, the WPT devices911 and 913 transmit wireless power to the first and second WPT devices903 and 905, respectively.

Referring now to FIG. 9L, the additional WPT 909 (e.g., a subwoofer orother playback device, optionally with a wired power connection)transmits wireless power to the first and second WPT devices 903 and905, while the first WPT device 901 transmits wireless power to the WPTdevices 911 and 913. FIG. 9M illustrates a similar configuration, exceptthat the additional WPT device 909 transmits wireless power to WPTdevices 903 and 911, and the first WPT 901 transmits wireless power toWPT devices 905 and 913. In FIG. 9N, the additional WPT device 909transmits wireless power to WPT devices 903, 905, and 911, while thefirst WPT device 901 transmits wireless power only to the WPT 913. Thistransition can be made as a result of the user moving to obstruct a lineof sight between the WPT device 909 and the WPT device 913, or based onother parameters.

In the arrangement shown in FIG. 9O, the second and third WPT devices903 and 905 are connected to wired power, while the WPT device 909wirelessly powers WPT device 911, and the first WPT device 901wirelessly powers the WPT device 913. FIG. 9P illustrates a similararrangement, except that WPT device 909 neither transmits or receiveswireless power, and the second WPT device 903 (which is connected to awired power input) wirelessly powers WPT device 911. In some examples,the system can transition from the arrangement of FIG. 9O to that ofFIG. 9P when a user moves the WPT device 909 to a new location that isfurther from the WPT device 911.

FIG. 9Q illustrates a similar configuration except that the WPT device909 (which can be a subwoofer or other device with a wired connection)wirelessly powers the WPT devices 903 and 911, while WPT devices 905 and913 each have their own wired power connection. In the arrangement shownin FIG. 9R, the WPT device 909 is moved further from WPT devices 903 and911 (or alternatively by removing the WPT device 909 altogether, or bythe WPT device 909 losing power), and in response the power group canadapt by transmitting wireless power from the third WPT device 905 tothe second WPT device 903, and by transmitting wireless power from thefirst WPT device 901 to the WPT device 911.

In the arrangement shown in FIG. 9S, WPT devices 909 and 915 can eachtake the form of audio playback devices (e.g., subwoofers) having wiredpower connections. These devices provide wireless power to the secondand third WPT devices 903 and 905, respectively, while the first WPTdevice 901 provides wireless power to the WPT devices 911 and 913. In analternative state, shown in FIG. 9T, the WPT devices 909 and 915 eachpower two WPT devices, with no wireless power being transmitted from thefirst WPT device 901. This transition (from the arrangement of FIG. 9Sto that of FIG. 9T) may be made based on, for example, moving the WPTdevices 911 and 913 closer to the respective WPT devices 909 and 915, orby a change in power level or other state of the first WPT device 901.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 9U and 9V, the first playback device 901(e.g., a soundbar with a wired power connection) is replaced with a WPTdevice 917 having no wired power connection. As shown in FIG. 9U, theWPT device 909 (e.g., a subwoofer having a wired power connection) canpower each of WPT devices 903, 905, 911, and 917. However, because theuser is blocking a line of sight between the WPT device 909 and the WPTdevice 913, no power is transmitted to WPT device 913. In FIG. 9V, thethird WPT device 905 transmits wireless power to the WPT device 913, forexample in response to an indication that the WPT device 913 is low onbattery, has stopped receiver power, or other such instruction.

FIGS. 9W and 9X illustrate examples in which a WPT hub device 919provides wireless power to the second and third WPT devices 903 and 905.In some examples, the WPT hub device 919 can be a standalone device thatdoes not have audio playback capabilities, but has a wired power inputand is configured to transmit wireless power to one or more externalreceiver devices. In some examples, the WPT hub device 919 can be anarchitectural feature configured to be integrated into a structure(e.g., ceiling-mounted, wall-mounted, integrated into furniture such asa television stand, etc.). In some examples, the WPT hub device 919 mayprovide power to external WPT devices and may also communicate with atleast the first WPT 901. In the illustrated example, the first WPT 901transmits data to the WPT hub device 919, which in turn provideswireless power to the second and third WPT devices 903 and 905. In theexample shown in FIG. 9X, the WPT hub device 919 receives data from oneor more external devices (e.g., one or more remote computing devices,other local devices, etc.), and optionally may transmit data to thefirst WPT 901 and/or to any other devices. In some instances, based onthe received data, the WPT hub device 919 may initiate, cease, or modifytransmission of wireless power to nearby receiver devices.

VI. Example Methods for Managing Wireless Power Transfer Devices

FIGS. 10-19 illustrate example methods for managing wireless powertransfer (WPT) devices, such as audio playback devices having wirelesspower transmitters and/or wireless power receivers integrated therein.The methods described herein may be performed by a device, such as theWPT device 700 of FIG. 7 , the power group coordinator 800 or powergroup members 850 a-b of FIG. 8 , the NMD 103 a of FIG. 1A, or aplayback device such as playback device 120 of FIG. 2A. In variousexamples, the illustrated blocks may be modified, combined, sub-divided,or performed in orders other than those shown and described herein.

a. Modulating Wireless Power Transmission Based on Wireless PowerDelivered

In some cases, it may be useful to modify the transmission of wirelesspower based on the rate, level, or amount of wireless power received byone or more external receiver devices. An example method 1000 begins inblock 1002 with transmitting wireless power from a transmitter device toone or more external devices. The transmitter device can be, for examplean audio playback device having a wireless power transmitterincorporated therein, and/or the external device(s) can be an audioplayback device having a wireless power receiver incorporated therein.In some examples, the one or more external devices are spaced apart fromthe transmitter device by at least about 10 cm, about 50 cm, or about 1m.

In block 1004, the transmitter device receives a power receipt parametercorresponding to the one or more external devices. In various examples,the power receipt parameter can include an indication of the powerreceived by the external device(s). The indication can be a rate ofwireless power received, a total amount of wireless power received, or abinary indicator of whether or not wireless power is currently being (orhas recently been) received by the external device(s). In some examples,the power receipt parameter includes an energy storage level indication(e.g., a battery level) of the one or more external devices.

The method 1000 advances to block 1006 to modify the wireless powertransmission based at least in part on the power receipt parameter. Forexample, modifying the wireless power transmission can includetemporarily suspending transmission of wireless power for a period oftime, and after the period of time, resuming transmission of wirelesspower. Such temporary suspension may be useful if, for example, a useris temporarily blocking a path of wireless power transmission betweenthe devices.

Additionally or alternatively, modifying the wireless power transmissioncan include changing a directional output of the wireless power (e.g.,using adjustable lenses, mirrors, antennas, etc.). In some cases,real-time or near-real-time feedback can be provided regarding wirelesspower received from the external devices, and this feedback can be usedto steer or otherwise change the directional output of the wirelesspower so as to ensure that the external device(s) receive sufficientpower via the wireless power output.

In some examples, modifying the wireless power transmission includestransmitting wireless power to a second one or more external devicesdifferent from the first. For example, if the first device ceases toreceive wireless power from the transmitter device, the transmitterdevice may instead deliver wireless power to a second external device.Optionally, the second external device may be configured to in turnprovide wireless power to the first external device (e.g., in a “relay”configuration). In at least some examples, modifying wireless powertransmission includes ceasing transmission of wireless power altogether.

b. Guidance for Placement of Wireless Power Receiver Devices

In some cases, it may be useful to guide a user with respect to relativepositioning of wireless power transmitter and receiver devices. Anexample method 1100 begins in block 1102 with outputting instructions tofacilitate placement of wireless power receiver devices. For a givenwireless power transmitter device and wireless power receiver device,certain relative positions may be more beneficially adapted to receivewireless power transfer. Accordingly, it can be useful to provideguidance (e.g., in the form of an output from the transmitter device) asto where the intended wireless power receiver devices should bepositioned.

In various examples, the guidance can take the form of a visual oraudible representation of suitable placement positions within theenvironment. For example, the instructions or guidance can includeaudible output, such as real-time or near-real-time audio feedbackregarding placement of the one or more second devices. Additionally oralternatively, the guidance can include one or more positioning guides,such as an optical projection. As one example, an optical pattern can beprojected into the environment with desirable locations (e.g., thosewith a clear line-of-sight from the transmitter device) indicatedvisually for a user to see. In some examples, such guidance can bepresented as an augmented reality visualization (e.g., displayed via acontrol device) that indicates desirable placement locations forreceiver device(s) within the environment. In some cases, desirableplacement locations can be determined by scanning the environment, forexample using a camera coupled to the control device or other suitableimaging device. Images, video, or other data regarding the environmentcan be analyzed to determine desirable relative positions of thetransmitter device and receiver device(s).

In at least some instances, the instructions can indicate a position ofthe one or more second devices suitable to receive wireless power (e.g.,from the wireless power transmitter). In various examples, theinstructions may indicate a position at least about 10 cm, at leastabout 50 cm, or at least about 1 m away from the transmitter device.

Although such indicated placement positions can rely in whole or in parton a projected or determined wireless power transmission parameter, insome examples the instructions indicate one or more positions of the oneor more second devices based at least in part on a projected acousticperformance of the one or more second devices at the one or morepositions. For example, if a receiver device may perform particularlywell acoustically at a given location, that location may be preferredeven if it is not the optimal location for wireless power delivery,because the improved acoustic performance can reduce the powerconsumption of that device, leading to an overall optimization of deviceoperating time by positioning the device at an acoustically beneficiallocation.

Method 1100 continues in block 1104 with transmitting wireless power tothe receiver device(s). In some examples, the transmitter device mayreceive a power receipt parameter indicating acceptable placement of thereceiver device(s). Additionally or alternatively, the method canfurther include outputting an indicator to the user of successfulplacement of the one or more receiver devices. In various examples, theindicator can include at least one of: (i) a light, (ii) a sound, or(iii) a notification output via a control device.

c. Modulating Device Operation Based on Wireless Power Received

As noted elsewhere herein, in some cases the power received at awireless receiver device may vary over time. Accordingly, it may beuseful to modify operation of the receiver device based on the wirelesspower received. An example method 1200 begins in block 1202 withreceiving wireless power from an external transmitter device. In block1204, the device transmits wireless power to an external receiverdevice. In some instances, the external transmitter device and theexternal receiver device can be distinct, such that the device acts as arelay, by receiving wireless power from one device and providingwireless power to another.

Method 1200 advances to block 1206, with modifying transmission ofwireless power to the external receiver device after detecting a changein wireless power received from the external transmitter device. Forexample, if the wireless power level drops (e.g., a rate of powerreceived is reduced), the wireless power transmitted to the externalreceiver device may be modified. In various examples, such modificationcan include ceasing or pausing wireless power transmission, and/orreducing a rate or wireless power transmission. Additionally oralternatively, modifying wireless power transmission can includeredirecting wireless power transmission towards a second, differentexternal receiver device.

In some examples, the device is a first audio playback device, theexternal transmitter device is a second audio playback device, and thefirst and second audio playback devices are configured to play backaudio synchronously (e.g., the first and second audio playback devicesare grouped together for audio playback). In some examples, the externalreceiver device can be a third audio playback device, and the first andsecond audio playback devices can be configured to play back audiosynchronously (e.g., the first and third audio playback devices aregrouped together for audio playback).

The method can further include sending a signal to a second externaltransmitter device, for example a signal indicating that a level ofwireless power being received has been reduced. After sending thesignal, a second external transmitter device may initiate wireless powertransfer, such that the device begins to receive wireless power from thesecond external transmitter device.

d. Reducing Power Consumption in Low Power States

In scenarios in which a WPT device reaches a low power state, it may benecessary or beneficial to reduce power consumption to extend theoperation time of the device and to avoid poor user experiences of adevice “dropping out” unexpectedly. One example method 1300 begins inblock 1302 with receiving wireless power at a device. In block 1304, themethod monitors an energy storage level of the device (e.g., a batterycharge level or percentage, an estimated remaining operation time,etc.).

In block 1306, the method involves modulating operation of the devicebased on the received wireless power and/or the energy storage level.For example, if the battery charge level indicates a reduced deviceoperation time under normal operating conditions, then device operationmay be modulated in a manner that extends the projected device operationtime (e.g., by entering a low-power or stand-by state).

In some examples, the device is an audio playback device, and modulatingoperation of the device includes modulating audio playback, such asreducing a volume of audio playback, and/or reducing a low-frequencyoutput of audio playback. Moreover, in some examples modulating audioplayback can include routing at least a portion of low-frequency audiocontent to a second audio playback device for synchronous playback.Since low-frequency content is particularly power-intensive to playback, it may be especially useful to offload playback responsibilitiesfor at least a portion of such low-frequency audio content.

Additionally or alternatively, modulating operation of the device caninclude disabling at least one microphone of the device. In someinstances, this can include disabling access to any associated voiceassistant services associated with the device.

In at least some cases, modulating operation of the device can includecausing a different external transmitter device to initiate wirelesspower transmission. As another example, the device operation can bemodulated by outputting an alert to the user (e.g., an audible alert, anindication via a control device, blinking lights, etc.) that indicates alow wireless power reception. In response, a user may reposition thedevice, reposition the transmitter device, or make other modificationsto the environment that improves wireless power reception at the device.

e. Grouping Playback Devices Based on Wireless Power Transmission

In some cases, the grouping (e.g., bonding) of audio playback devicesfor synchronous playback can be based, at least in part, on thetransmission of wireless power between the playback devices. One examplemethod 1400 begins in block 1402 with playing back audio synchronouslyvia first and second playback devices.

In block 1404, the first playback device receives an indication ofreduced wireless power reception at the second playback device. At block1406, operation of the first playback device is modulated. For example,because the second playback device has reduced power, its audio playbackmay be modified (e.g., reduced volume, reduced bass output, etc.). Inorder to reduce or eliminate any mismatch between the two devices (e.g.,as when the first and second devices are configured to operate as leftand right surrounds), operation of the first playback device can bemodulated in response to the condition of the second playback device.

In some examples, modulating operation of the first playback device caninclude modulating audio playback to correspond to audio playback viathe second playback device, such as reducing a volume of audio playback,reducing a low-frequency output of audio playback, etc. In someinstances, at least a portion of the low-frequency audio content may berouted from the first playback device to a third audio playback devicefor synchronous playback.

Modulating operation of the device optionally includes wirelesslytransmitting power to the second audio playback device via the wirelesspower transmitter. This power transmission may remedy the low powerreceipt of the second playback device such that audio playbackconditions can be maintained.

In at least some cases, modulating operation of the first playbackdevice can include outputting an alert (e.g., an audible or visibleindication) of low wireless power reception at the second playbackdevice.

f. Utilizing Standby Mode to Reduce Charging Time

In order to conserve power and reduce the amount of time required tofully charge a WPT device, it may be useful to intelligently utilizestandby modes or other low-power states. One example method 1500 beginsin block 1502 with receiving or determining a use parameter via a device(e.g., a wireless power receiver device).

In various examples, the use parameter can be any parameter thatindicates or is based on usage of the device. For instance, the useparameter can be based at least in part on a scheduled device operationtime, and/or a detected presence of a user. A user's presence may bedetected via, for example, sonic detection, ultrasonic detection,optical detection (e.g., infrared sensors), a pattern of receivedwireless power (e.g., a temporary reduction in wireless power receivedmay indicate a user passing through the line-of-sight between atransmitter device and a receiver device), a received signal strengthindicator (RSSI), or any other suitable parameter or sensing technique.In some embodiments, the use parameter indicates whether the device iscurrently being used for audio playback. Additionally or alternatively,the use parameter indicates whether the device may be safelytransitioned to standby mode (e.g., during off-hours in which the devicehistorically has not been activated by the user).

In block 1504, wireless power is received at the device, and in block1506, the device operation is modulated based at least in part on theuse parameter. In various examples, modulating operation of the devicecan include transitioning the device into a low-power state, disablingone or more microphones of the device, or modulating playback of audiocontent (e.g., reducing volume, pausing or ceasing audio playback,reducing low-frequency output, etc.).

In some examples, modulating operation of the device includestransitioning the device from an active state into a low-power stateaccording to a schedule, wherein the schedule includes staggered periodsof low-power states for a plurality of devices, such that at any giventime at least one device of the plurality of devices is in an activestate. In some instances, the device may be awaked from the low-powerstate (e.g., transitioned back into the active state) based onscheduling, instructions from other devices (e.g., an indication that auser has activated another playback device), or other such useparameter.

According to some examples, the use parameter comprises a user-sleepindication. For example, a user's sleep may be detected usingmicrophones of the device, by receiving a sleep indication from anotherdevice such as a fitness band, etc. In such instances, modifyingoperation of the device may include one or more of: dimming a light,turning off a light, delaying or forgoing a software update, orsuppressing an audio output so as to not disturb the user's sleep.

g. Data Transmission Using Wireless Power Signals

As noted elsewhere herein, in some instances a wireless power signal canbe imparted with data for communication among WPT devices. FIGS. 16 and17 illustrate methods of transmitting and receiving wireless powersignals having data incorporated therein. Turning now to FIG. 16 , themethod 1600 begins in block 1602 with transmitting a wireless powersignal via a transmitter device. In block 1604, the wireless powersignal is modulated to carry data therein. In some examples, the signalcan be modulated prior to any transmission, while in other instances thewireless power signal may be transmitted initially without anymodulation for data transfer, and after a period of time the signal maybe modulated to carry data therein. The wireless power signal can bemodulated to carry data using at least one of: frequency modulation,amplitude modulation, phase modulation, pulse width modulation, spreadspectrum modulation, or any other suitable modulation technique.

In various examples, the data incorporated therein can include one ormore of: a battery level indication of a transmitter or receiver device,identifying information of the transmitter device, synchronization data,audio playback synchronization data, or audio content metadata. Examplesof synchronization data transmitted between devices of a media playbacksystem can be found in U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/013,069,filed on Apr. 21, 2020, (attorney docket no. 19-1008p), which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

In some examples, the wireless power signal is a first wireless powersignal modulated according to a first modulation scheme, and thewireless power transmit may transmit a second wireless power signalmodulated according to a second modulation scheme different from thefirst. For example, based at least in part on an energy storage level ofthe transmitter device, the modulation scheme used to modulate thewireless power signal may be modified (e.g., to provide less datatransmission vs. power transmission or vice versa).

The data transmitted can optionally include instructions to a receiverdevice to modulate its device operation, for example to dim one or morelights, disable one or more microphones, or modify one or more audioplayback parameters. This may be particularly suitable if the receiverdevice is determined to be in a low-power state.

Turning to FIG. 17 , the method 1700 illustrates an example method forreceiving a wireless power signal carrying data therein. In block 1702,a receiver device receives a wireless power signal that is modulated tocarry data from an external transmitter device. The wireless powersignal can be modulated to carry data using at least one of: frequencymodulation, amplitude modulation, phase modulation, pulse widthmodulation, spread spectrum modulation, or any other suitable modulationtechnique.

At block 1704, the data is recovered using the wireless power signal(e.g., the wireless power signal may be demodulated to recover thedata). In various examples, the data can include some or all of: abattery level indication of the external transmitter device, identifyinginformation of the external transmitter device, synchronization data,audio playback synchronization data, or audio content metadata.

Method 1700 advances to block 1706 with recovering power from thewireless power signal. For example, power recovered from the wirelesspower signal may be used to drive one or more amplifiers of an audioplayback device or otherwise contribute to operation of the receiverdevice.

In block 1708, operation of the receiver device is modulated based onthe received data. For example, such modulation can include dimming oneor more lights, disabling one or more microphones, or modifying one ormore audio playback parameters of the receiver device. Additionally oralternatively, at least a portion of the data can be transmitted to anexternal receiver device, such that the receiver device acts as anintermediary to relay data from the external transmitter device and tothe external receiver device. In some examples, the receiver devicefurther includes a wireless power transmitter, and may transmit awireless power signal to an external receiver device. The wireless powersignal may be modulated as described above to carry at least a portionof the data

h. Playback Device Groupings Based on Wireless Power Transmission

In some instances, the groupings of playback devices may be modifiedautomatically based on wireless power transmission. For example, methods1800 and 1900 relate to methods for managing temporary playback devicegroupings based at least in part on wireless power transmission amongthem. Method 1800 begins in block 1802 with receiving, at a firstplayback device, wireless power from a second playback device. In block1804, the first playback device is configured to play back audio contentin synchrony with the second playback device (e.g., forming a groupincluding at least the first and second playback devices).

In some examples, the method further includes ceasing receiving thewireless power from the second playback device, and after ceasingreceiving the wireless power, removing the first playback device fromthe group. This cessation of wireless power received may indicate thatthe second playback device has been removed from the environment (e.g.,relocated to another part of the user's home), and as such it may beappropriate to remove the second playback device from the audio playbackgroup. Additionally or alternatively, after ceasing to receive thewireless power from the second playback device, the second playbackdevice may be removed from the group for the same reasons.

In at least some cases, operation of the first playback device can bemodified after the first and second playback devices are groupedtogether. For example, such modification can include adjusting afrequency output of the first playback device (e.g., increasing orreducing an output of low-frequency audio content).

Turning now to FIG. 19 , the method 1900 begins in block 1902 withplaying back audio content via first and second playback devices insynchrony. This can include forming a group that includes at least thefirst and second playback devices. In block 1904, the first playbackdevice receives wireless power from the second playback device.

Next, in block 1906, the first playback device ceases to receivewireless power from the second playback device. After this cessation,the first playback device is configured to no longer play back audiocontent in synchrony with the second playback device (e.g., the devicesare ungrouped or unbonded). In some examples, after ceasing to receivewireless power at the first playback device, either the first playbackdevice or the second playback device may be removed from the group.

In at least some cases, operation of the first playback device can bemodified after the first and second playback devices are ungrouped. Forexample, such modification can include adjusting a frequency output ofthe first playback device (e.g., increasing or reducing an output oflow-frequency audio content).

VII. Examples

The present technology is illustrated, for example, according to variousaspects described below. Various examples of aspects of the presenttechnology are described as numbered examples for convenience. These areprovided as examples and do not limit the present technology. It isnoted that any of the dependent examples may be combined in anycombination, and placed into a respective independent example. The otherexamples can be presented in a similar manner.

Example 1: A device comprising: a wireless power transmitter; one ormore processors; and one or more non-transitory computer-readable mediastoring instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors,cause the device to perform operations comprising: causing the wirelesspower transmitter to transmit wireless power to one or more externalreceiver devices.

Example 2: A device comprising: a wireless power receiver; one or moreprocessors; and one or more non-transitory computer-readable mediastoring instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors,cause the device to perform operations comprising: receiving wirelesspower, via the wireless power receiver, from one or more externaltransmitter devices.

Example 3: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedevice comprises both a wireless power receiver and a wireless powertransmitter.

Example 4: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedevice comprises an energy storage component coupled to the wirelesspower receiver.

Example 5: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theenergy storage component comprises a rechargeable battery.

Example 6: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theenergy storage component comprises a capacitor.

Example 7: The device of any one of the Examples herein, furthercomprising an energy harvester.

Example 8: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theenergy harvester is configured to derive power from energy sources inthe environment.

Example 9: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theenergy harvest is configured to derive power from at least one of: solarenergy, thermal energy, or kinetic energy.

Example 10: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theenergy harvester comprises at least one of: a photovoltaic cell, athermoelectric generator, or a piezoelectric crystal.

Example 11: The device of any one of the Examples herein, furthercomprising a wired power input configured to receive power over a wiredelectrical connection.

Example 12: The device of any one of the Examples herein, furthercomprising a network interface.

Example 13: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thenetwork interface is configured to communicate via at least one WIFInetwork.

Example 14: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thenetwork interface is configured to communicate via at least oneBLUETOOTH network.

Example 15: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedevice comprises an audio playback device.

Example 16: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedevice comprises one or more amplifiers configured to drive one or moreaudio transducers.

Example 17: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedevice comprises one or more audio transducers.

Example 18: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedevice comprises at least one of: a soundbar, a subwoofer, a headphonedevice, a portable audio playback device, an architectural playbackdevice, or a video playback device.

Example 19: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thewireless power transmitter is configured to transmit wireless power viaelectromagnetic coupling.

Example 20: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thewireless power transmitter is configured to transmit wireless power viaelectromagnetic radiation.

Example 21: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thewireless power transmitter comprises a laser.

Example 22: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thewireless power transmitter comprises a microwave source.

Example 23: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thewireless power transmitter comprises an electrically conductive coil.

Example 24: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thewireless power transmitter is configured to transmit wireless power viaone or more of: inductive coupling, resonant inductive coupling,capacitive coupling, magnetodynamic coupling, microwaves, infrared, orlaser.

Example 25: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thewireless power transmitter is a mid-range or long-range wireless powertransmitter.

Example 26: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thewireless power transmitter is configured to transmit wireless power overa distance of greater than about 10 cm, about 50 cm, or about 1 m.

Example 27: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thewireless power receiver is configured to receive wireless power viaelectromagnetic coupling.

Example 28: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thewireless power receiver is configured to receive wireless power viaelectromagnetic radiation.

Example 29: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thewireless power receiver comprises a photovoltaic cell.

Example 30: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thewireless power receiver comprises a diode.

Example 31: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thewireless power receiver comprises an electrically conductive coil.

Example 32: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thewireless power receiver is configured to receive wireless power via oneor more of: inductive coupling, resonant inductive coupling, capacitivecoupling, magnetodynamic coupling, microwaves, infrared, or laser.

Example 33: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thewireless power receiver is a mid-range or long-range wireless powerreceiver.

Example 34: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thewireless power receiver is configured to receive wireless power over adistance of greater than about 10 cm, about 50 cm, or about 1 m.

Example 35: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein devicecomprises a first audio playback device, wherein the one or moreexternal devices comprises a second audio playback device, and whereinthe first audio playback device is configured to play back audio contentin synchrony with the second audio playback device.

Example 36: A method comprising transmitting, via a wireless powertransmitter, wireless power to one or more external receiver devices.

Example 37: A method comprising receiving, via a wireless powerreceiver, wireless power from one or more external transmitter devices.

Example 38: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein themethod comprises both transmitting wireless power to one or moreexternal receiver devices and receiving wireless power from one or moreexternal transmitter devices.

Example 39: The method of any one of the Examples herein, furthercomprising storing energy via an energy storage component using thereceived wireless power.

Example 40: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theenergy storage component comprises a rechargeable battery.

Example 41: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theenergy storage component comprises a capacitor.

Example 42: The method of any one of the Examples herein, furthercomprising harvesting energy via one or more energy harvesters.

Example 43: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinharvesting energy comprises deriving power from energy sources in theenvironment.

Example 44: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinharvesting energy comprises deriving power from at least one of: solarenergy, thermal energy, or kinetic energy.

Example 45: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theenergy harvester comprises at least one of: a photovoltaic cell, athermoelectric generator, or a piezoelectric crystal.

Example 46: The method of any one of the Examples herein, furthercomprising receiving power via a wired electrical connection.

Example 47: The method of any one of the Examples herein, furthercomprising communicating with one or more external devices via a networkinterface.

Example 48: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereincommunicating via the network interface comprises communicating via aWIFI network.

Example 49: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereincommunicating via the network interface comprises communicating via aBLUETOOTH network.

Example 50: The method of any one of the Examples herein, furthercomprising playing back audio via one or more amplifiers of the device.

Example 51: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedevice comprises at least one of: a soundbar, a subwoofer, a headphonedevice, a portable audio playback device, an architectural playbackdevice, or a video playback device.

Example 52: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereintransmitting wireless power comprises transmitting wireless power viaelectromagnetic coupling.

Example 53: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereintransmitting wireless power comprises transmitting wireless power viaelectromagnetic radiation.

Example 54: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereintransmitting wireless power comprises emitting light.

Example 55: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereintransmitting wireless power comprises emitting microwaves.

Example 56: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereintransmitting wireless power comprises supplying current to anelectrically conductive coil.

Example 57: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereintransmitting wireless power comprises transmitting wireless power viaone or more of: inductive coupling, resonant inductive coupling,capacitive coupling, magnetodynamic coupling, microwaves, infrared, orlaser.

Example 58: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereintransmitting wireless power comprises transmitting wireless power over amid- or long-range distance.

Example 59: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereintransmitting wireless power comprises transmitting wireless power over adistance of greater than about 10 cm, about 50 cm, or about 1 m.

Example 60: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinreceiving the wireless power comprises receiving wireless power viaelectromagnetic coupling.

Example 61: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinreceiving the wireless power comprises receiving wireless power viaelectromagnetic radiation.

Example 62: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinreceiving the wireless power comprises receiving light at a photovoltaiccell.

Example 63: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinreceiving the wireless power comprises receiving light at a diode.

Example 64: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinreceiving the wireless power comprises receiving an induced electricalcurrent in an electrically conductive coil.

Example 65: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinreceiving the wireless power comprises receiving wireless power via oneor more of: inductive coupling, resonant inductive coupling, capacitivecoupling, magnetodynamic coupling, microwaves, infrared, or laser.

Example 66: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thewireless power receiver is a mid-range or long-range wireless powerreceiver.

Example 67: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinreceiving wireless power comprises receiving wireless power from the oneor more external transmitter devices over a mid- or far-range distance.

Example 68: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinreceiving wireless power comprises receiving wireless power from the oneor more external transmitter devices over a distance of greater thanabout 10 cm, about 50 cm, or about 1 m.

Example 69: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedevice comprises a first audio playback device, wherein the one or moreexternal devices comprises a second audio playback device, and themethod further comprising playing back audio content, via the firstaudio playback device, in synchrony with the second audio playbackdevice.

Example 70: A device comprising: a wireless power transmitter; one ormore processors; and one or more non-transitory computer-readable mediastoring instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors,cause the device to perform operations comprising: causing the wirelesspower transmitter to transmit wireless power to one or more externaldevices; receiving, via the network interface, a power receipt parameterof the one or more external devices; after receiving the power receiptparameter, causing the wireless power transmitter to modify wirelesspower transmission.

Example 71: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thepower receipt parameter comprises an indication of wireless powerreceived at the one or more external devices.

Example 72: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thepower receipt parameter comprises an indication of a level of wirelesspower received at the one or more external devices.

Example 73: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thepower receipt parameter comprises a battery level indication of the oneor more external devices.

Example 74: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedevice comprises a first audio playback device, and wherein the one ormore external devices comprises one or more second audio playbackdevices.

Example 75: The device of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodifying wireless power transmission comprises ceasing transmission ofwireless power.

Example 76: The device of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodifying wireless power transmission comprises temporarily suspendingtransmission of wireless power for a period of time; and after theperiod of time, resuming transmission of wireless power.

Example 77: The device of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodifying wireless power transmission comprises changing a directionaloutput of the wireless power.

Example 78: The device of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodifying wireless power transmission comprises transmitting wirelesspower to a second one or more external devices different from the first.

Example 79: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theone or more external devices are spaced apart from the device by atleast about 10 cm, about 50 cm, or about 1 m.

Example 80: A method comprising: transmitting wireless power from atransmitter device to one or more external devices; receiving, via anetwork interface, at the transmitter device, a power receipt parameterof the one or more external devices; after receiving the power receiptparameter, causing modifying the transmission of wireless power from thetransmitter device.

Example 81: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thepower receipt parameter comprises an indication of wireless powerreceived at the one or more external devices.

Example 82: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thepower receipt parameter comprises an indication of a level of wirelesspower received at the one or more external devices.

Example 83: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thepower receipt parameter comprises a battery level indication of the oneor more external devices.

Example 84: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thetransmitter device comprises a first audio playback device, and whereinthe one or more external devices comprises one or more second audioplayback devices.

Example 85: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodifying wireless power transmission comprises ceasing transmission ofwireless power.

Example 86: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodifying wireless power transmission comprises temporarily suspendingtransmission of wireless power for a period of time; and after theperiod of time, resuming transmission of wireless power.

Example 87: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodifying wireless power transmission comprises changing a directionaloutput of the wireless power.

Example 88: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodifying wireless power transmission comprises transmitting wirelesspower to a second one or more external devices different from the first.

Example 89: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theone or more external devices are spaced apart from the device by atleast about 10 cm, about 50 cm, or about 1 m.

Example 90: A device comprising: a wireless power transmitter; one ormore processors; and one or more non-transitory computer-readable mediastoring instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors,cause the device to perform operations comprising: outputtinginstructions to facilitate placement of the one or more second devices;and causing the wireless power transmitter to transmit wireless power toone or more second devices.

Example 91: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theinstructions comprise audible output.

Example 92: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theaudible output comprises real-time audio feedback regarding placement ofthe one or more second devices.

Example 93: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theinstructions comprise one or more positioning guides.

Example 94: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theinstructions comprise an optical projection.

Example 95: The device of any one of the Examples herein, whereinoutputting instructions comprises causing an augmented realityvisualization to be displayed via a control device.

Example 96: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theinstructions indicate a position of the one or more second devicessuitable to receive wireless power.

Example 97: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theinstructions indicate a position of the one or more second devicessuitable to receive wireless power from the wireless transmitter.

Example 98: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theinstructions indicate one or more positions of the one or more seconddevices based at least in part on a projected acoustical performance ofthe one or more second devices at the one or more positions.

Example 99: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theoperations further comprise receiving a power receipt parameterindicating acceptable placement of the one or more second devices.

Example 100: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theoperations further comprise outputting an indicator to the user ofsuccessful placement of the one or more second devices.

Example 101: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theindicator comprises at least one of: (i) a light, (ii) a sound, or (iii)a notification output via a control device.

Example 102: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theinstructions indicate a position at least about 10 cm, at least about 50cm, or at least about 1 m away from the device.

Example 103: A method comprising: outputting instructions, via awireless power transmitter device, to facilitate placement of one ormore wireless power receiver devices; and transmitting wireless power tothe one or more wireless power receiver devices.

Example 104: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theinstructions comprise audible output.

Example 105: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theaudible output comprises real-time audio feedback regarding placement ofthe one or more wireless power receiver devices.

Example 106: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theinstructions comprise one or more positioning guides.

Example 107: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinoutputting the instructions comprise projecting optically projecting oneor more placement indicators.

Example 108: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinoutputting instructions comprises causing an augmented realityvisualization to be displayed via a control device.

Example 109: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theinstructions indicate a position of the one or more second devicessuitable to receive wireless power.

Example 110: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theinstructions indicate a position of the one or more wireless powerreceiver devices suitable to receive wireless power from the wirelesstransmitter device.

Example 111: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theinstructions indicate one or more positions of the one or more wirelesspower receiver devices based at least in part on a projected acousticalperformance of the one or more wireless power receiver devices at theone or more positions.

Example 112: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theoperations further comprise receiving a power receipt parameterindicating acceptable placement of the one or more wireless powerreceiver devices.

Example 113: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theoperations further comprise outputting an indicator to a user ofsuccessful placement of the one or more wireless power receiver devices.

Example 114: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theindicator comprises at least one of: (i) a light, (ii) a sound, or (iii)a notification output via a control device.

Example 115: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theinstructions indicate a position at least about 10 cm, at least about 50cm, or at least about 1 m away from the wireless power transmitter.

Example 116: A device, comprising: a wireless power receiver; a wirelesspower transmitter; one or more processors; and one or morenon-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, whenexecuted by the one or more processors, cause the device to performoperations comprising: receiving power via the wireless power receiverfrom an external transmitter device; causing the wireless powertransmitter to transmit wireless power to an external receiver devicedifferent from the external transmitter device; and after a change inpower received via the wireless power receiver, causing the wirelesspower transmitter to modify wireless power transmission.

Example 117: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theexternal transmitter device and the external receiver device aredistinct.

Example 118: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thechange in power received comprises a reduction in a rate of powerreceived.

Example 119: The device of any one of the Examples herein, whereincausing the wireless power transmitter to modify wireless powertransmission comprises causing the wireless power transmitter to ceasewireless power transmission.

Example 120: The device of any one of the Examples herein, whereincausing the wireless power transmitter to modify wireless powertransmission comprises causing the wireless power transmitter toredirect wireless power transmission towards a second, differentexternal receiver device.

Example 121: The device of any one of the Examples herein, whereincausing the wireless power transmitter to modify wireless powertransmission comprises causing the wireless power transmitter to reducea rate of wireless power transmission.

Example 122: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedevice comprises a first audio playback device, wherein the externaltransmitter device comprises a second audio playback device, and whereinthe first audio playback device is configured to play back audio contentsynchronously with the second audio playback device.

Example 123: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedevice comprises a first audio playback device, wherein the externalreceiver device comprises a third audio playback device, and wherein thefirst audio playback device is configured to play back audio contentsynchronously with the third audio playback device.

Example 124: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theoperations further comprise: sending a signal to a second externaltransmitter device; and after sending the signal, receiving wirelesspower from the second external transmitter device.

Example 125: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thesecond external transmitter device comprises an audio playback device.

Example 126: A method comprising: receiving, at a first device, wirelesspower from an external transmitter device; transmitting, via the firstdevice, wireless power to an external receiver device; and after achange in power received from the external transmitter device, modifyingthe transmission of wireless power to the external receiver device.

Example 127: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theexternal receiver device and the external transmitter device aredistinct.

Example 128: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thechange in power received comprises a reduction in a rate of powerreceived.

Example 129: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodifying the transmission of wireless power comprises ceasing wirelesspower transmission.

Example 130: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodifying the transmission of wireless power comprises redirectingwireless power transmission towards a second, different externalreceiver device.

Example 131: The method of any one of the Examples herein, modifying thetransmission of wireless power comprises reducing a rate of wirelesspower transmission.

Example 132: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedevice comprises a first audio playback device, wherein the externaltransmitter device comprises a second audio playback device, the methodfurther comprising playing back audio content via the first audioplayback device, in synchrony with the second audio playback device.

Example 133: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedevice comprises a first audio playback device, wherein the externalreceiver device comprises a third audio playback device, the methodfurther comprising playing back audio content via the first audioplayback device in synchrony with the third audio playback device.

Example 134: The method of any one of the Examples herein, furthercomprising: sending a signal to a second external transmitter device;and after sending the signal, receiving wireless power from the secondexternal transmitter device.

Example 135: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thesecond external transmitter device comprises an audio playback device.

Example 136: A device comprising: a wireless power receiver; one or moreprocessors; and one or more non-transitory computer-readable mediastoring instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors,cause the device to perform operations comprising: receiving wirelesspower via the wireless power receiver; based on received wireless power,modulating operation of the device.

Example 137: The device of any one of the Examples herein, furthercomprising an energy storage component, the operations furthercomprising: monitoring a level of the energy storage component; andbased on the power level, modulating operation of the device.

Example 138: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedevice comprises an audio playback device, and wherein modulatingoperation of the device comprises modulating audio playback.

Example 139: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedevice comprises an audio playback device, and wherein modulatingoperation of the device comprises reducing a volume of audio playback.

Example 140: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedevice comprises an audio playback device, and wherein modulatingoperation of the device comprises reducing a low-frequency output ofaudio playback.

Example 141: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedevice comprises a first audio playback device, and wherein modulatingoperation of the device comprises routing at least a portion oflow-frequency audio content to a second audio playback device forsynchronous playback.

Example 142: The device of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodulating operation of the device comprises disabling at least onemicrophone of the device.

Example 143: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedevice comprises an audio playback device, and wherein modulatingoperation of the device comprises causing a different externaltransmitter device to initiate wireless power transmission.

Example 144: The device of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodulating operation of the device comprises outputting an alert to theuser indicating low wireless power reception.

Example 145: The device of any one of the Examples herein, whereinoutputting the alert comprises outputting an audible indication of lowwireless power reception or outputting a visible indication of lowwireless power reception.

Example 146: A method comprising: receiving, at a device, wirelesspower; based on received wireless power, modulating operation of thedevice.

Example 147: The method of any one of the Examples herein, furthercomprising: monitoring a level of an energy storage component of thedevice; and based on the power level, modulating operation of thedevice.

Example 148: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedevice comprises an audio playback device, and wherein modulatingoperation of the device comprises modulating audio playback.

Example 149: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedevice comprises an audio playback device, and wherein modulatingoperation of the device comprises reducing a volume of audio playback.

Example 150: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedevice comprises an audio playback device, and wherein modulatingoperation of the device comprises reducing a low-frequency output ofaudio playback.

Example 151: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedevice comprises a first audio playback device, and wherein modulatingoperation of the device comprises routing at least a portion oflow-frequency audio content to a second audio playback device forsynchronous playback.

Example 152: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodulating operation of the device comprises disabling at least onemicrophone of the device.

Example 153: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedevice comprises an audio playback device, and wherein modulatingoperation of the device comprises causing a different externaltransmitter device to initiate wireless power transmission.

Example 154: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodulating operation of the device comprises outputting an alert to theuser indicating low wireless power reception.

Example 155: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinoutputting the alert comprises outputting an audible indication of lowwireless power reception or outputting a visible indication of lowwireless power reception.

Example 156: A first playback device comprising one or more amplifiersconfigured to drive one or more audio transducers; a wireless powerreceiver; one or more processors; and one or more non-transitorycomputer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by theone or more processors, cause the first playback device to performoperations comprising: playing back audio content synchronously with asecond playback device; receiving an indication of reduced wirelesspower reception at the second playback device; and after receiving theindication, modulating operation of the first playback device.

Example 157: The device of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodulating operation of the first playback device comprises modulatingaudio playback to correspond to audio playback via the second playbackdevice.

Example 158: The device of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodulating operation of the first playback device comprises reducing avolume of audio playback.

Example 159: The device of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodulating operation of the first playback device comprises reducing alow-frequency output of audio playback.

Example 160: The device of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodulating operation of the first playback device comprises routing atleast a portion of low-frequency audio content to a third audio playbackdevice for synchronous playback.

Example 161: The device of any one of the Examples herein, furthercomprising a wireless power transmitter, wherein modulating operation ofthe device comprises wirelessly transmitting power to the second audioplayback device via the wireless power transmitter.

Example 162: The device of any one of the Examples herein, whereinoutputting the alert comprises outputting an audible indication of lowwireless power reception or outputting a visible indication of lowwireless power reception.

Example 163: A method comprising: playing back audio, via a firstplayback device, synchronously with a second playback device; receiving,at the first playback device, an indication of reduced wireless powerreception at the second playback device; and after receiving theindication, modulating operation of the first playback device.

Example 164: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodulating operation of the device comprises modulating audio playbackto correspond to audio playback via the second playback device.

Example 165: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodulating operation of the first playback device comprises reducing avolume of audio playback.

Example 166: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodulating operation of the first playback device comprises reducing alow-frequency output of audio playback.

Example 167: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodulating operation of the first playback device comprises routing atleast a portion of low-frequency audio content to a third audio playbackdevice for synchronous playback.

Example 168: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodulating operation of the first playback device comprises wirelesslytransmitting power from the first audio playback device to the secondaudio playback device via a wireless power transmitter.

Example 169: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinoutputting the alert comprises outputting an audible indication of lowwireless power reception or outputting a visible indication of lowwireless power reception.

Example 170: A device comprising: a wireless power receiver; one or moreprocessors; and one or more non-transitory computer-readable mediastoring instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors,cause the device to perform operations comprising: receiving ordetermining a use parameter; receiving wireless power via the wirelesspower receiver; and based on the use parameter, modulating operation ofthe device.

Example 171: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theuse parameter is based at least in part on a scheduled device operationtime.

Example 172: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theuse parameter is based at least in part on a detected presence of auser.

Example 173: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedetected presence of a user is based on at least one of: sonic detectionor optical detection.

Example 174: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedetected presence of a user is based on at least one of: ultrasonicdetection or infrared detection.

Example 175: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedetected presence of a user is based on a pattern of received wirelesspower.

Example 176: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein atemporary reduction in wireless power received indicates the detectedpresence of a user.

Example 177: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedetected presence of a user is based on a received signal strengthindicator (RSSI).

Example 178: The device of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodulating operation of the device comprises transitioning the deviceinto a low-power state.

Example 179: The device of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodulating operation of the device comprises disabling one or moremicrophones of the device.

Example 180: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedevice comprises an audio playback device, and wherein modulatingoperation of the device comprises modulating playback of audio content.

Example 181: The device of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodulating playback of audio content comprises reducing a volume ofaudio playback.

Example 182: The device of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodulating playback of audio content comprises pausing or ceasing audioplayback.

Example 183: The device of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodulating operation of the device comprises transitioning the devicefrom an active state into a low-power state according to a schedule,wherein the schedule includes staggered periods of low-power states fora plurality of devices, such that at any given time at least one deviceof the plurality of devices is in an active state.

Example 184: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theuse parameter comprises a user-sleep indication, and wherein modifyingoperation of the device comprises one or more of: dimming a light,turning off a light, delaying or forgoing a software update, orsuppressing an audio output.

Example 185: A method comprising: receiving or determining a useparameter via a device; receiving wireless power via a wireless powerreceiver of the device; and based on the use parameter, modulatingoperation of the device.

Example 186: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theuse parameter is based at least in part on a scheduled device operationtime.

Example 187: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theuse parameter is based at least in part on a detected presence of auser.

Example 188: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedetected presence of a user is based on at least one of: sonic detectionor optical detection.

Example 189: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedetected presence of a user is based on at least one of: ultrasonicdetection or infrared detection.

Example 190: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedetected presence of a user is based on a pattern of received wirelesspower.

Example 191: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein atemporary reduction in wireless power received indicates the detectedpresence of a user.

Example 192: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedetected presence of a user is based on a received signal strengthindicator (RSSI).

Example 193: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodulating operation of the device comprises transitioning the deviceinto a low-power state.

Example 194: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodulating operation of the device comprises disabling one or moremicrophones of the device.

Example 195: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedevice comprises an audio playback device, and wherein modulatingoperation of the device comprises modulating playback of audio content.

Example 196: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodulating playback of audio content comprises reducing a volume ofaudio playback.

Example 197: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodulating playback of audio content comprises pausing or ceasing audioplayback.

Example 198: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodulating operation of the device comprises transitioning the devicefrom an active state into a low-power state according to a schedule,wherein the schedule includes staggered periods of low-power states fora plurality of devices, such that at any given time at least one deviceof the plurality of devices is in an active state.

Example 199: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theuse parameter comprises a user-sleep indication, and wherein modifyingoperation of the device comprises one or more of: dimming a light,turning off a light, delaying or forgoing a software update, orsuppressing an audio output.

Example 200: A device comprising: a wireless signal transmitterconfigured to transmit a wireless power signal; one or more processors;and one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storinginstructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causethe playback device to perform operations comprising: causing thewireless signal transmitter to transmit a wireless power signal that ismodulated to carry data.

Example 201: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedata comprises instructions to a receiver device to modulate deviceoperation.

Example 202: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theinstructions comprise instructions to dim one or more lights, disableone or more microphones, or modify one or more audio playbackparameters.

Example 203: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedata comprises a battery level indication.

Example 204: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedata comprises identifying information of the device.

Example 205: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedata comprises synchronization data.

Example 206: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedata comprises audio playback synchronization data.

Example 207: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedata comprises audio content metadata.

Example 208: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thewireless power signal is modulated to carry data using at least one of:frequency modulation, amplitude modulation, phase modulation, pulsewidth modulation, or spread spectrum modulation.

Example 209: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thewireless power signal comprises a first wireless power signal modulatedaccording to a first modulation scheme, the operations furthercomprising causing the wireless power transmitter to transmit a secondwireless power signal modulated according to a second modulation schemedifferent from the first.

Example 210: The device of any one of the Examples herein, theoperations further comprising monitoring an energy storage level of thedevice, and based at least in part on the energy storage level,modifying a modulation scheme used to modulate the wireless powersignal.

Example 211: A method comprising: to transmit, via a device, a wirelesspower signal; modulating the wireless power signal to carry datatherein.

Example 212: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedata comprises instructions to a receiver device to modulate deviceoperation.

Example 213: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein theinstructions comprise instructions to dim one or more lights, disableone or more microphones, or modify one or more audio playbackparameters.

Example 214: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedata comprises a battery level indication.

Example 215: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedata comprises identifying information of the device.

Example 216: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedata comprises synchronization data.

Example 217: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedata comprises audio playback synchronization data.

Example 218: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedata comprises audio content metadata.

Example 219: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodulating the wireless power signal comprises using at least one of:frequency modulation, amplitude modulation, phase modulation, pulsewidth modulation, or spread spectrum modulation.

Example 220: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thewireless power signal comprises a first wireless power signal modulatedaccording to a first modulation scheme, the method further comprisingtransmit a second wireless power signal modulated according to a secondmodulation scheme different from the first.

Example 221: The method of any one of the Examples herein, furthercomprising monitoring an energy storage level of the device, and basedat least in part on the energy storage level, modifying a modulationscheme used to modulate the wireless power signal.

Example 222: A device comprising: a wireless signal receiver configuredto receive a wireless power signal; and one or more non-transitorycomputer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by theone or more processors, cause the playback device to perform operationscomprising: receiving, from an external transmitter device, a wirelesspower signal that is modulated to carry data; based on the data,modulating operation of the device.

Example 223: The device of any one of the Examples herein, theoperations further comprising recovering power from the wireless powersignal.

Example 224: The device of any one of the Examples herein, theoperations further comprising using power from the wireless power signalto drive one or more amplifiers.

Example 225: The device of any one of the Examples herein, theoperations further comprising recovering data from the wireless powersignal.

Example 226: The device of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodulating operation of the device comprises dimming one or more lights,disabling one or more microphones, or modifying one or more audioplayback parameters.

Example 227: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedata comprises a battery level indication of an external transmitterdevice.

Example 228: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedata comprises identifying information of an external transmitterdevice.

Example 229: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedata comprises synchronization data.

Example 230: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedata comprises audio playback synchronization data.

Example 231: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedata comprises audio content metadata.

Example 232: The device of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thewireless power signal is modulated to carry data using at least one of:frequency modulation, amplitude modulation, phase modulation, pulsewidth modulation, or spread spectrum modulation.

Example 233: The device of any one of the Examples herein, theoperations further comprising transmitting at least a portion of thedata to an external receiver device.

Example 234: The device of any one of the Examples herein, the devicefurther comprising a wireless power transmitter, the operations furthercomprising causing the wireless power transmitter to transmit a wirelesspower signal to an external receiver device, the wireless power signalmodulated to carry at least a portion of the data.

Example 235: A method comprising: receiving, at a receiver device, froman external transmitter device, a wireless power signal that ismodulated to carry data; recovering the data using the wireless powersignal; and based on the data, modulating operation of the receiverdevice.

Example 236: The method of any one of the Examples herein, furthercomprising recovering power from the wireless power signal.

Example 237: The method of any one of the Examples herein, furthercomprising using power from the wireless power signal to drive one ormore amplifiers.

Example 238: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodulating operation of the receiver device comprises dimming one ormore lights, disabling one or more microphones, or modifying one or moreaudio playback parameters.

Example 239: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedata comprises a battery level indication of an external transmitterdevice.

Example 240: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedata comprises identifying information of an external transmitterdevice.

Example 241: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedata comprises synchronization data.

Example 242: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedata comprises audio playback synchronization data.

Example 243: The method of any one of the Examples herein, wherein thedata comprises audio content metadata.

Example 244: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodulating the wireless power signal to carry data comprises using atleast one of: frequency modulation, amplitude modulation, phasemodulation, pulse width modulation, or spread spectrum modulation.

Example 245: The method of any one of the Examples herein, furthercomprising transmitting at least a portion of the data to an externalsecond receiver device.

Example 246: The method of any one of the Examples herein, transmittinga wireless power signal from the receiver device to an external secondreceiver device, the wireless power signal modulated to carry at least aportion of the data.

Example 247: A first playback device for playing back audio via aplurality of audio transducers, comprising: one or more amplifiersconfigured to drive one or more audio transducers; a wireless powerreceiver; one or more processors; and one or more non-transitorycomputer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by theone or more processors, cause the first playback device to performoperations comprising: receiving wireless power from a second playbackdevice; and after receiving the wireless power, configuring the firstplayback device to play back audio content in synchrony with the secondplayback device.

Example 248: The device of any one of the Examples herein, whereinconfiguring the first playback device to play back audio content insynchrony with the second playback device comprises forming a group.

Example 249: The device of any one of the Examples herein, theoperations further comprising ceasing receiving the wireless power fromthe second playback device, and after ceasing receiving the wirelesspower, removing the first playback device from the group.

Example 250: The device of any one of the Examples herein, theoperations further comprising ceasing receiving the wireless power fromthe second playback device, and after ceasing receiving the wirelesspower, removing the second playback device from the group.

Example 251: The device of any one of the Examples herein, theoperations further comprising modifying operation of the first playbackdevice after configuring the first playback device to play back audiocontent in synchrony with the second playback device.

Example 252: The device of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodifying operation of the first playback device comprises adjusting afrequency output of the first playback device.

Example 253: The device of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodifying operation of the first playback device comprises reducing anoutput of low-frequency audio content.

Example 254: A method comprising: receiving, at a first playback device,wireless power from a second playback device; and after receiving thewireless power, configuring the first playback device to play back audiocontent in synchrony with the second playback device.

Example 255: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinconfiguring the first playback device to play back audio content insynchrony with the second playback device comprises forming a group.

Example 256: The method of any one of the Examples herein, furthercomprising ceasing receiving the wireless power from the second playbackdevice, and after ceasing receiving the wireless power, removing thefirst playback device from the group.

Example 257: The method of any one of the Examples herein, furthercomprising ceasing receiving the wireless power from the second playbackdevice, and after ceasing receiving the wireless power, removing thesecond playback device from the group.

Example 258: The method of any one of the Examples herein, furthercomprising modifying operation of the first playback device afterconfiguring the first playback device to play back audio content insynchrony with the second playback device.

Example 259: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodifying operation of the first playback device comprises adjusting afrequency output of the first playback device.

Example 260: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodifying operation of the first playback device comprises reducing anoutput of low-frequency audio content.

Example 261: A first playback device for playing back audio via aplurality of audio transducers, comprising: one or more amplifiersconfigured to drive one or more audio transducers; a wireless powerreceiver; one or more processors; and one or more non-transitorycomputer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by theone or more processors, cause the first playback device to performoperations comprising: playing back audio content via the one or moreamplifiers in synchrony with a second playback device; receivingwireless power from the second playback device; ceasing receivingwireless power from the second playback device; and after ceasing toreceive the wireless power, configuring the first playback device to nolonger play back audio content in synchrony with the second playbackdevice.

Example 262: The device of any one of the Examples herein, whereinplaying back audio content in synchrony with the second playback devicecomprises forming a group.

Example 263: The device of any one of the Examples herein, theoperations further comprising, after ceasing receiving the wirelesspower, removing the first playback device from the group.

Example 264: The device of any one of the Examples herein, theoperations further comprising, after ceasing receiving the wirelesspower, removing the second playback device from the group.

Example 265: The device of any one of the Examples herein, theoperations further comprising modifying operation of the first playbackdevice after configuring the first playback device to no longer playback audio content in synchrony with the second playback device.

Example 266: The device of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodifying operation of the first playback device comprises adjusting afrequency output of the first playback device.

Example 267: The device of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodifying operation of the first playback device comprises increasing anoutput of low-frequency audio content.

Example 268: A method comprising: playing back audio content via a firstplayback device in synchrony with a second playback device; receivingwireless power at the first playback device from the second playbackdevice; ceasing receiving wireless power from the second playbackdevice; and after ceasing to receive the wireless power, configuring thefirst playback device to no longer play back audio content in synchronywith the second playback device.

Example 269: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinplaying back audio content in synchrony with the second playback devicecomprises forming a group.

Example 270: The method of any one of the Examples herein, furthercomprising, after ceasing receiving the wireless power, removing thefirst playback device from the group.

Example 271: The method of any one of the Examples herein, furthercomprising, after ceasing receiving the wireless power, removing thesecond playback device from the group.

Example 272: The method of any one of the Examples herein, furthercomprising modifying operation of the first playback device afterconfiguring the first playback device to no longer play back audiocontent in synchrony with the second playback device.

Example 273: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodifying operation of the first playback device comprises adjusting afrequency output of the first playback device.

Example 274: The method of any one of the Examples herein, whereinmodifying operation of the first playback device comprises increasing anoutput of low-frequency audio content.

Example 275: A method comprising: performing the operations of any oneof the Examples herein.

Example 276: A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storinginstructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause theone or more processors to perform operations comprising the method ofany one of the Examples herein.

VIII. Conclusion

The above discussions relating to wireless power transfer devices,playback devices, controller devices, playback zone configurations, andmedia/audio content sources provide only some examples of operatingenvironments within which functions and methods described below may beimplemented. Other operating environments and configurations of wirelesspower transfer systems, media playback systems, playback devices, andnetwork devices not explicitly described herein may also be applicableand suitable for implementation of the functions and methods.

The description above discloses, among other things, various examplesystems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture including,among other components, firmware and/or software executed on hardware.It is understood that such examples are merely illustrative and shouldnot be considered as limiting. For example, it is contemplated that anyor all of the firmware, hardware, and/or software aspects or componentscan be embodied exclusively in hardware, exclusively in software,exclusively in firmware, or in any combination of hardware, software,and/or firmware. Accordingly, the examples provided are not the onlyways) to implement such systems, methods, apparatus, and/or articles ofmanufacture.

Additionally, references herein to “embodiment” means that a particularfeature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment can be included in at least one example embodiment of aninvention. The appearances of this phrase in various places in thespecification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment,nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of otherembodiments. As such, the embodiments described herein, explicitly andimplicitly understood by one skilled in the art, can be combined withother embodiments.

The specification is presented largely in terms of illustrativeenvironments, systems, procedures, steps, logic blocks, processing, andother symbolic representations that directly or indirectly resemble theoperations of data processing devices coupled to networks. These processdescriptions and representations are typically used by those skilled inthe art to most effectively convey the substance of their work to othersskilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth to provide athorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it isunderstood to those skilled in the art that certain embodiments of thepresent disclosure can be practiced without certain, specific details.In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, andcircuitry have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarilyobscuring aspects of the embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of thepresent disclosure is defined by the appended claims rather than theforegoing description of embodiments.

When any of the appended claims are read to cover a purely softwareand/or firmware implementation, at least one of the elements in at leastone example is hereby expressly defined to include a tangible,non-transitory medium such as a memory, DVD, CD, Blu-ray, and so on,storing the software and/or firmware.

1. A method for an audio playback device, the method comprising:receiving, via a wireless power receiver, wireless power from one ormore external transmitter devices; and based on the received wirelesspower, modulating operation of the device, wherein modulating operationof the device comprises modulating audio playback.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein modulating audio playback comprises reducing a volumeof audio playback.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein modulating audioplayback comprises reducing a low-frequency output of audio playback. 4.The method of claim 1, further comprising modulating operation of theaudio playback device based on a level of an energy storage component ofthe audio playback device.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:receiving or determining a use parameter via a device; and based on theuse parameter, modulating operation of the audio playback device.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, by the audioplayback device, wireless power to a second device.
 7. A method for anaudio playback device, the method comprising: receiving, via a wirelesspower receiver, wireless power from one or more external transmitterdevices; and based on the received wireless power, modulating operationof the audio playback device, wherein modulating operation of the audioplayback device comprises routing at least a portion of low-frequencyaudio content to a second audio playback device for synchronousplayback.
 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising modulatingoperation of the audio playback device based on a level of an energystorage component of the audio playback device.
 9. The method of claim7, further comprising: receiving or determining a use parameter via adevice; and based on the use parameter, modulating operation of theaudio playback device.
 10. The method of claim 7, further comprisingtransmitting, by the audio playback device, wireless power to a seconddevice.
 11. A method for an audio playback device, the methodcomprising: receiving, via a wireless power receiver, wireless powerfrom one or more external transmitter devices; and based on the receivedwireless power, modulating operation of the audio playback device,wherein modulating operation of the audio playback device comprisesdisabling at least one microphone of the audio playback device.
 12. Themethod of claim 11, further comprising modulating operation of the audioplayback device based on a level of an energy storage component of theaudio playback device.
 13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:receiving or determining a use parameter via a device; and based on theuse parameter, modulating operation of the audio playback device. 14.The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting, by the audioplayback device, wireless power to a second device.
 15. A method for anaudio playback device, the method comprising: receiving, via a wirelesspower receiver, wireless power from one or more external transmitterdevices; and based on the received wireless power, modulating operationof the audio playback device, wherein modulating operation of the audioplayback device comprises outputting an alert to the user indicating lowwireless power reception.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprisingmodulating operation of the audio playback device based on a level of anenergy storage component of the audio playback device.
 17. The method ofclaim 15, further comprising: receiving or determining a use parametervia a device; and based on the use parameter, modulating operation ofthe audio playback device.
 18. The method of claim 15, furthercomprising transmitting, by the audio playback device, wireless power toa second device.